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For Effective Environment Solutions
and Progressive Industrial Societies |
| Deep Underground Space to Support Urban
Life |
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Deep Underground Space Development
(Courtesy of The Sankei Shimbun) |
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| Underground Oil Stockpiling Base |
| Underground Waste Gasification Plant |
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| The development of this exciting New Frontier is known to provide better
solutions to meet social and economic requirements.
Underground space is a more familiar concept in terms of our lives and industry
than aerospace or oceano space, and the Japanese Government is currently engaged
in extensive measures to respond to these requirements. In order to promote extensive
utilization of this "Geospace", technology development over a broad
spectrum of these fields is indispensable.
 Today, in cooperation
with experts from governmental, public and private sectors, the Geospace Engineering
Center (GEC) is undertaking this progressive project as a subsequent organization
of the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan. |
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R&D ON EFFECTIVE ENERGY SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION
The National technology development project for Advanced Thermoelectric (TE)
Conversion Systems, which started in September 2002, is now in progress. This
technology is expected to contribute to reducing future carbon dioxide emissions.
In these programs, development efforts are concentrated on the TE modules and
their application systems as well as TE evaluation technologies for industrial
and urban requirements.
The effective use of both aboveground and underground spaces provides better solutions
to problems such as energy storage, supply and consumption. R&D efforts include:
Integrated thermal energy network systems, Rationalization of energy consumption
at metal mines, and Application technology on unused low quality energy. |
| R&D ON DEEP UNDERGROUND SPACE DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY
GEC has been conducting comprehensive R&D activities on underground space
development technology. This project was commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial
Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in 1989 and has been successfully completed
with following results:
1. Precise underground structure evaluation technology
2. Deep underground space construction technology
3. Deep underground environment monitoring and disaster prevention technology
4. Total systems and utilization technology
Further geological investigation and research has been implemented to investigate
underground space characteristics |
| R&D ON ENERGY STOCKPILING SYSTEMS
Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC) commissioned ENAA to undertake feasibility
studies on eight national oil stockpiling bases including three underground bases.
Further, preliminary designs, location and corroborative studies were executed
by ENAA for these underground bases (Kuji, Kikuma and Kushikino).
Also, ENAA has engaged in studies and planning on national stockpiling of liquefied
petroleum gas at five proposed areas including two underground bases(Namikata
and Kurashiki). |
| R&D ON UNDERGROUND SPACE UTILIZATION SYSTEMS |
Engineering approach includes but not limited
to:
ENERGY NETWORK TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
- Cryogenic liquefied natural gas storage systems in rock bed
- Underground natural gas hydrate storage-supply system
- Application of the cooling energy of snow in urban infrastructure
- Combustion technology of unused low-grade biochemical gas
- Structural issues relating to energy efficiency at urban complexes
UNDERGROUND SPACE UTILIZATION TO SUPPORT URBAN ACTIVITIES
- Technology development program study on deep underground areas
- Underground refrigerated warehouses with low thermal conductivity rock walls
to save energy
- Restructuring urban infrastructures and lifelines systems
- Access functions to international airport operations
COMFORTABLE AND RELAXED URBAN LIFE
- Integrated underground space applications at core cities with hill terrains
- derground environmental conditions
- Underground waste gasification and energy recovery plant
ENSURING URBAN SAFETY AND SECURITY
- Urban underground water storage and supply systems for multipurpose use
- Disaster prevention support systems located underground with emergency water
and electric power supply
- Float structure systems for seismic isolation and vibration control
REGIONAL GROWTH TO PROSPERTY
- Evaluation study on lifecycle carbon dioxide emission at industrial complexes
- Proper blockade and plugging systems at unused underground caverns
- Impermeable soil technology at terminal waste storage facilities
- Applications for cavern surrounded by underground spiral tunnels
SAFETY & COMFORT OF UNDERGROUND ENVIRONMENTS
- Safety assessment procedure in underground space
- Space design at underground complexes
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