Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for purifying silicon

US6368403B1 · kind B1 · utility

11Cited by
10References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 2000
Grant dateApr 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T117/1016
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus for purifying metallurgical grade silicon to produce solar grade silicon has a container for holding molten silicon and one or more torches for providing oxygen and hydrogen gas to heat the molten silicon so that the reaction time is prolonged, to create turbulence, and to introduce silica powder and water vapor for reactions with molten silicon. The molten silicon is then directionally solidified.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.