Geothermal Snow Melting System in Japan
- Key words
- Direct Use; Design; Economics; Japan; Hokkaido; Sapporo; System Layout; Plastic Pipe; Expenses; Costs; Heat Exchangers; Three-loops; Panel; Thermal Water; Warm Springs; Sapporo City; Institute of Meteorology; Spa Industry
- Location
- Jozankei, Japan; Kusatsu, Japan
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1979
- Session
- Direct use; Snow melting; Economics; Feasibility studies
- Language
- English
Abstract
Some examples of geothermal snow melting systems are described for their layout, heat output and expenses. In case of Jouzankei, Sapporo, in Northern Japan, natural thermal water is forced up to circulate through the three separate circuits constructed mainly with a set of 25 mm polybutene pipes. Roads embedding snow melting pipes extends 1,328 m (10,400 m2). The construction and maintenance expenses are 9,000/m2 and 115/m2y, respectively, which are greatly inexpensive in comparison with electric ones. Two rather small scale snow melting systems fulfill their function in Kusatsu, Gunma, in Central Japan. Each is operated using heat exchanged hot city water (140 m long road) and natural thermal water (50 m long road).
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