SUBTERRANEAN HEAT

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 12

SUBTERRANEAN HEAT

JAPANESE POWER SCHEME In view of the present shortage of electricity, public interest is centred in a proposed plan to establish a Kamognn, a power plant using subterranean heat. The idea was derived from similar power plants already established in Italy, and the authorities have been studying the possibility in Japan. A small-scale experiment at Beppu spa has yielded satisfactory results. Since then the Japan Subterranean Heat Power Plant Institute has been established in Tokio, and researches continued. The method of purifying the hot spring steam, the most difficult part of the project was recently completed. It was decided that, in order to industrialise the plan, a site must be found near Toldo, and the hot spring area about throe miles from Shimoda harbour was selected. The Communication Ministry is supporting the plan, and the 1 work will get undex- way as soon as the materials are obtained. A perpendicular pipe, about_l2in in diameter, driven some I,oooft into the ground, will bo equipped with a devioc for purifying tho organic matters in the steam extracted from the ground. Several large turbines will be rotated by the purified steam, thus generating tho electricity.