SITH STUDIES HYDROTHERMAL PHENOMENA

38th Scientific conference in the spa area of BEPPU

Beppu, with 3000 mineral water springs, is the city with most thermal springs in the world.

The International Society of Hydrothermal Techniques (SITH), together with the World Thermal Organization (OMTh), will promote research into hydro-thermal phenomena, at the 38 th scientific conference, which will take place from the 25 th September to the 1 st October in Beppu , Japan.

The aim is to exchange knowledge between different disciplines related to hydrothermal phenomena, such as environmental science, engineering, medical science, pharmaceutical research and tourism, and thus to deepen our understanding of the interaction between human beings and the planet.

The hydrothermal area of Beppu, located in the north-eastern part of Kyushu Island, is known as one of the largest and richest spa resources of Japan. Here thermal waters have shown multiple chemical qualities, and are accessed from natural hot springs and drillings reaching about 2500m depth. Beppu's geo-thermal fields are studied by researchers and engineers specialised in hydrothermal phenomena, with special attention to the rich energetic potential of these thermal waters.

'ONSEN' SPRINGS
Located in the province of Oita , Beppu boasts 3000 water springs, which make this the city with most thermal springs in the world, and the greatest source of hot water in Japan . Takegawara Onsen, the oldes spa in Beppu, was founded in 1879. In Hell's Mountain Spa, steam seeps from cracks in the rock, looking like a steaming volcano.

So called 'onsen' hot springs are Beppu's greatest attraction. Every year millions of tourists visit this Spa city to enjoy therapeutic treatment in one of its many spas, or to enjoy this city's warm water waterfalls, massage, mud wraps or other relaxing treatments.

Beppu was designated as the host of the 38the International SITH Conference during the Annual OMTh and SITH Council Board Meeting that took place in Levico Terme ( Italy ). The International Conference will coincide with the Japan 's Balneotherapy Society 56 th Annual Meeting.

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Thermal springs have been used for bathing and medicinal purposes since early history. Some civilizations used these waters to obtain drinking water through a steam condensation process, or to cook food. Minerals associated with hydrothermal activity such as sulphur, kaolin, limonite, and iron oxides were extracted from these springs.

However, the discovery of 'boron salts' in Lardarello's hot springs (Italy), towards the end of the 18th Century, marked the start of the industrial exploitation of geothermal resources. Boric acid industry started in 1812, and in 1904 electricity was being generated from geothermal steam.

In 1913 a 250KW electricity station started functioning; since then Italy has continued to increase its capacity reaching 635MW in 1995.

Circa 1920 exploratory wells were drilled in: Beppu ( Japan ), where an experimental 1KW station was set up in 1924; in The Geysers and Niland ( California ), although this project was abandoned due to insufficient electrical demand; in El Tatio ( Chile ) where two wells were drilled to a depth of 60m, this project was abandoned due to economic problems.

In the 30s wells were drilled in Reykiavik and Reykim ( Iceland ), where the hot water obtained was used for heating systems. With this in mind, the first exploratory drillings were carried out in Roturua (New Zealand) in 1940.

The sixties marked the start of intensive research and exploratory work into geothermal resources in different parts of the world, carried out with a view to exploiting these resources for heating energy, or for generating electricity. In 1995 the capacity of geothermal electricity stations reached 6.790 Mw (Hutter, 1995), and in 2000 they were expected to reach 9.960 Mw capacity.

The direct use of geothermal energy, be it for heating, industrial or agricultural purposes, reached the equivalent of 8.300 Mw in 1995 (Freeston, 1995).

FURTHER INFORMATION
SITH Central Office 2003
Beppu Geothermal Research Laboratory

Kyoto University - Noguchibaru, Beppu 874-0903, Japan .

Tel. +81 977 22 0713 Fax +81 977 22 0965

E Mail : yusa@bep.vgs.kyoto-u.ac.jp