Did the mechanical engineer check with chemical engineers to verify the existence or an explanation of their absence, of chemical residues from such an operation?
Did he detail the chemicals, and how much would have been required? Explain where they came from or how they were produced? How they were transported? What supporting infrastructure would have been required?
What was the 'power' used for; how was it transmitted/carried/stored; where are the devices it powered?
Why are there no records of this?
Not asking you to explain it; just wondering if his book did?
If he did, was it at all plausible; or, just an 'interesting read'?
It was all plausible from a mechanical engineering point of view. I don't remember any chemical engineering comments -- it's been a while since I read the book -- except that the shafts (too small for humans) were, in theory, used to pour chemicals into the main chamber for combining.