FOTOFAX
BREVARD PLANT
PHOTO PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT
SOLAR HEAT AIDS SILVER SALVAGE
Most of the "Solar Energy" articles
seen today seem to imply that solar
energy is still to be developed around
technology not yet in existence. No
doubt that's true; but solar energy is at
work right now, helping the plant re-
Jim Henderson holds a piece of dried
material from the solar dryer.
FOCUS:
THANKSGIVING
The Thanksgiving holiday brings to
mind that William Bradford, Governor
of Massachusetts, set aside the first
Thanksgiving Day as a day of feasting
and prayer. This was a way for the early
colonists to show their gratitude for still
being alive. Over the years Thanksgiving
has continued to be an important day
where families celebrate with big dinners
and happy reunions. I am also aware
that many find time for serious religious
thinking, church services and personal
prayer.
As I think about the events that have
affected our plant and employees during
the months since the last Thanksgiving
Day, I find much for which to be thank
ful. To name just a few things:
• No one has sustained a serious
injury while at work. In fact, as
a group we have worked safely
over 1,054 days and 7,229,260
man-hours. Each day worked
without a disabling injury estab
lishes a new Brevard plant on-the-
job safety record.
• Employment has been steady and
without layoff. In fact, 39 new
employees have been added since
January, 1979.
• Employees have risen to the chal
lenge of meeting abnormal pro
cover precious silver. It's working in a
very practical way.
The upward spiral of silver prices
makes the recovery of ever smaller
amounts of silver worthwhile. Last year,
the decision was made to begin recovery
of silver which had made its way into
the plant's settling pond.
The silver was trapped in a sludge at
the bottom of the pond. Most of the
sludge was diatomaceous earth from the
water clarifiers at the powerhouse. A
receptor pit was made in the "borrow
pit" north of the plant, and a contractor
was hired to pump the sludge from the
settling pond around the road to the pit.
The question then became: How do
you remove the water? Several steps are
necessary to get the silver out of the
sludge, and the first one is getting the
material to the refiner.
Most of the water must be removed
before it is practical to ship the material.
Drying several thousand cubic feet of
mineral material to the desired 30%
moisture or below would require large
amounts of energy. Costs of drying by
John
duction demands during a period
of price instability in the world
silver markets. This situation con
tinues chaotic, but I am confident
the employees at the Brevard plant
will continue to help the plant
successfully meet the challenges
that lie ahead.
• Support of the United Way Cam
paign was outstanding with contri
butions totaling about $43,000.
This exceeded the plant goal of
$39,500 and is further evidence
that our employees are concerned
for those who are in need of a
helping hand. This is in keeping
with the spirit of Thanksgiving.
All is not rosy, of course! The news
reminds us daily of inflation, oil short
ages, economic downturns, the crisis in
Iran, and so on. For one day, I counted
all my blessings, with particular emphasis
on those I take for granted. I am sure if
you did the same, you found a long list
of items for which to be thankful.
^ John H. Golden
Plant Manager
VOL. 12, IMO. 9 NOVEMBER, 1979
FIRST LOAD: Arnold Morgan loads the waiting truck as Conley Mathis
removes roof panels. When all the dried sludge has been removed, the bins will be
filled again and tbe roof sections reinstalled for the next load.
traditional means were prohibitive, so
the decision was made to "go solar".
The solar sludge dryer is basically a
greenhouse, open at one end with a
blower at the other. The structure is
200 feet long, 12 feet wide. The clear
top is of scrap X4C1 base. The ultravio
let inhibitor in X4C1 prevents the poly
ester film from degrading in the sunlight.
The top is in sections; two men can move
a section of the cover. Two side panels
are also removable to allow access for
machinery used to move the material.
On November 6, the first product of
the solar dryer was loaded for shipment
to the refiner. The top 4 or 5 inches
were very dry, light and powdery. Mois
ture content increased with depth, but
the material was satisfactory for loading.
The only fuel-derived energy which had
been used for drying was for the 7.5 hp
electric motor which moves 15,000 cubic
feet of air per minute through the drying
tunnel.
Jim Henderson, engineer of the silver
recovery project, expects to be able to
ship 40,000 pounds of the silver-bearing
material every two weeks. The dried
diatomaceous earth is loaded into an
open topped truck by a front end loader,
and the empty dryer filled again with
damp sludge.
"There are a few things we would do
differently, if we had the job to do
again," says Henderson. "I should have
sloped the top a bit more, and I've con
sidered giving the inside of the west wall
a coat of black paint to increase the heat
capture.
"But our construction people did a
great job of building it; and all in all, the
dryer is working well. We're anticipating
a very good return on a relatively small
investment. This looked like a natural
for solar power."
Many proposed approaches to using
the sun's energy give the impression that
sophisticated apparatus is required, or
that we have to wait for a scientific
breakthrough. Meanwhile, over in the
borrow pit: plywood, scrap base and a
surplus blower are doing a valuable job
today—with solar energy, at a very at
tractive price.
Solar Sludge Dryer
Address Correction Requested
Box 267, Brevard, N. C. 28712
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Brevard, N.C.
Permit #66