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THE HIDROTHERMAL PHENOMENONS STUDIED BY THE S.I.T.H.
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38th SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE IN THE THERMAL AREA
OF BEPPU.
Beppu has 3.000 springs what transforms it into the city with the biggest number
of thermal sources of the world.
 The
International Society of Hydrothermals Technics(S.I.T.H.) in collaboration with
the World Thermalism Organization (O.M.Th) will promote the study of the
hydrothermal phenomenons, in the 38 Scientific Conference that will take place
during the days 25 September to the 1 October in Beppu, Japan.
The objective is to interchange the knowledge about environmental sciences,
the engineering, the medical science, the pharmaceutical investigation and of
the tourism related to the hydrothermal phenomenons and to deepen in the
interaction between the human being and the land.
The hydrothermal area of Beppu, located in the northeastern part of the
island of Kyushu, it is known as one of the biggest resources in the spas of
Japan where the thermal waters, with multiple chemical properties, are
discharged through the natural springs and the wells perforated reaching up
2500m. The geothermal fields of Beppu are studied by investigators and
specialized engineers in hydrothermal phenomenons keeping in mind the potential
energetic ricness of their thermal waters.
SOURCES "ONSEN"
 Located
in the county of Oita, Beppu has 3.000 springs because of which is the city with
bigger number of thermal sources of the world and the biggest quantity in hot
water produced in Japan. The Takegawara Onsen, the oldest  SPA in Beppu, it was
founded in 1879. In the Spa of Hell Mountain the vapour come up through the
openings in the rocks like those leaving a volcano.
 The
thermal sources knowm as "onsen" they are the main attraction of Beppu. To
this Spa city are arriving every year millions of visitors to undergo
therapeutic treatments in its Thermal Baths or to enjoy its cascades of hot
water that produces relaxing effects, massage and Baths of mud.
Beppu, has been designated headquarters for the 38 International Conference
of the SITh during the Annual Meeting of Consultants of the World Organization
of Thermalism (OMTh) and of the International Society of Hydrothermals
Techniques (SITH), that took place in the italian town Levico Terme. The
International Congress will be coincident with the 56 Annual Meeting of the
Society of Balneotherapy of Japan
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Since the antiquity the thermal sources have been used as baths, especially
due to theirs possible medicinal effects. Some towns also used them to obtain
drinkable water obtaining such water from those condensed of the vapour, and to
cook the foods; the minerals associated to the hydrothermal activity like the
sulphur, the travertinos, the kaolins, the limonitas and iron oxides were
traditionally extracted from these sources.
However, the discovery of salts of boron in the thermal springs of Larderello
(Italy) at the end of the XVIII century, marked the beginning of the industrial
use of the geothermal resources. The industry of the boric acid that begins in
1812, opens the way for the first time in 1904, to the electricity generation
using the geothermal vapour.
In 1913 became into operation a power station of 250 KW thence Italy has
increased its capacity until reaching, in 1995, an installed power of 632 MW.
Around 1920 exploratory wells were drilled in: Beppu (Japan), in1924 was
settled an experimental plant of 1 KW; in The Geysers and Niland (California)
the project was abandoned due to market lack for the electricity; in The Tatio
(Chile) where 2 wells were perforated up to 60 m. depth, this project was
abandoned due financial problems.
 In
the decade of the 30 perforations were carry out in Reykjavik and Reykim (Iceland)
where the captured hot water was used for environmental heating. With this same
objetive the first drillings was made in 1940, in Rotorúa (New Zealand).
Since the decade of the 60 it begins, in several parts of the world, an
intense investigation activity and exploration of the geothermal resources, in
order to use them either as caloric energy or for the electricity generation.
Thence in 1995 the installed capacity of geothermal-eléctric plants reached
6.790 Mwe, (Huttrer, 1995) being projected for the year 2000 a capacity of 9.960
Mw.
As for direct uses of the geothermal energy, either for heating, industrial
or agricultural processes, it reached according to Freeston, 1995, an equivalent
magnitude of 8.300 Mw.
MORE INFORMATION: Secretariat of SITH 2.003
Beppu Geothermal Research Laboratorio
Kyoto University - Noguchibaru, Beppu 874-0903, Japón
Tf. +81 977 22 0713 Fax +81 977 22 0965 E Mail : yusa@bep.vgs.kyoto-u.ac.jp
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