Abstract:
Embodiments of an obstructing member and methods for its use in a fluidized bed reactor are disclosed. The obstructing member comprises a plurality of receiving members, each receiving member comprising a tubular wall defining a passageway dimensioned to receive an internal reactor component, and a plurality of connecting elements connecting the receiving members, wherein the obstructing member occupies from 15-60% of a horizontal cross-section of a reaction chamber of the fluidized bed reactor.
Abstract:
Embodiments of an outlet tube assembly for use with a dispensing vessel are disclosed. The dispensing vessel has a side wall defining a chamber; the side wall has an upper portion and has a lower portion that tapers downwardly to an outlet. The outlet tube assembly facilitates accurate measurement of a particulate material level within the dispensing vessel and/or reduces contamination of the particulate material.
Abstract:
This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which granular silicon is flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.
Abstract:
This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing flowable, finely divided solids, such as annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which flowable, finely divided solids are flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for consolidating granular silicon and determining trace elements content of the consolidated silicon are disclosed. Silicon granules are placed in a vessel, and a silicon slug of known purity is embedded at least partially in the granules. The slug is preheated to a temperature sufficient to couple with an induction heater. As the silicon slug melts, silicon granules adjacent the molten silicon also melt. The vessel passes through an induction coil to successively inductively heat and melt regions of the silicon granules from the leading end to the trailing end with each region solidifying as the molten silicon exits the induction coil to provide a multicrystalline silicon ingot. The multicrystalline silicon ingot is sliced into wafers, which are analyzed by low-temperature Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine levels of trace elements in the ingot.
Abstract:
Fluidized bed reactor systems for producing high purity silicon-coated particles are disclosed. A vessel has an outer shell, an insulation layer inwardly of the outer shell, a concentric inner shell inwardly of the outer shell, and a concentric liner that is positioned inwardly of the inner shell and that defines a reactor chamber. The inner shell and liner are sealed together at their bottoms by an O-ring seal arrangement to prevent gas in the reactor chamber from entering a space between the inner shell and the liner. A central inlet nozzle produces a vertical gas plume in the reactor chamber.
Abstract:
Segmented silicon carbide liners for use in a fluidized bed reactor for production of polysilicon-coated granulate material are disclosed, as well as methods of making and using the segmented silicon carbide liners. Non-contaminating bonding materials for joining silicon carbide segments also are disclosed. One or more of the silicon carbide segments may be constructed of reaction-bonded silicon carbide.
Abstract:
Segmented silicon carbide liners for use in a fluidized bed reactor for production of polysilicon-coated granulate material are disclosed, as well as methods of making and using the segmented silicon carbide liners. Non-contaminating bonding materials for joining silicon carbide segments also are disclosed. One or more of the silicon carbide segments may be constructed of reaction-bonded silicon carbide.
Abstract:
Embodiments of a reaction chamber liner for use in a heated silicon deposition reactor are disclosed. The liner has an upper portion, a mid portion comprising a material other than a stainless steel alloy, and a lower portion comprising a martensitic stainless steel alloy. The liner's upper portion may have a composition substantially similar to the lower portion.
Abstract:
A method of controlling particle additions to a fluidized bed reactor includes measuring pressure fluctuations inside the fluidized bed reactor over a selected time period, determining a pressure parameter indicative of amplitudes of the pressure fluctuations, comparing the pressure parameter to a specified threshold, and controlling particle additions to the fluidized bed reactor when the pressure parameter deviates from the specified threshold.