110 histórias, 110 objetos (110 anos do Técnico)

The Técnico calorimeter dates from the late 19th century and would have belonged to Herculano de Carvalho, director of Técnico from 1938 to 1942. It was used to study the calorific value of fuels, particularly coals, in the context of research, to take full advantage of the country’s coal mines. This process of measuring heat through temperature variation was crucial not only for the analysis of coal, but for all potential types of fuel, both solid and liquid.

The piece is now part of the collection of the Department of Chemistry at Técnico. Covered with wooden strips and with a manual pulley, it resembles a small barrel. It was affectionately called the ‘Port wine calorimeter’ by former Técnico students.

• Acknowledgements:
  Hermínio Diogo
  Isabel Cabrita

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Further reading and additional audio in the Portuguese version of this webpage.