Development of road heating using geothermal energy
Installation of geothermal heat pipe snow-melting system
The Misasa Station is located at an elevation of 1,580 meters above sea level, and every year we are plagued by snow accumulation. Though the snow that accumulates on the connecting roads is removed with the cooperation of local companies, the snow around the gate at the entrance of the facility cannot be, because the gate is always closed for security reasons, and snow removal equipment cannot get near it, so the snow must be removed by hand. The staff in charge had been concerned about the snow around the gate. Therefore, they considered introducing a road heating system and concluded that a geothermal heat pipe snow-melting system (manufactured by Kowa Co., Ltd.), which does not use electricity or water and is 100% natural energy, would work effectively at the Misasa Station.
Geothermal Heat Pipe Snow-Melting System Overview
Timeline of work
Cut the asphalt in the area where you want to melt snow,
and drill several boreholes about 20 meters deep.
Place the pipe in the hole, bottom left. Install the rebar in a grid at the point where the asphalt was cut, as shown in the lower right.
The heat pipe is being inserted into the pipe.
Heat pipes buried underground are secured to a grid of rebar.
This is the exterior view (rectangular concrete portion) after completion. The small rectangle in the foreground is a grating. The installed area is melting beautifully even though there is snow on the ground. The gate will open and close smoothly from this winter. (November 20, 2023)
