Apparatus for obtaining silicon from fluosilicic acid

Patent · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866759

Sanjurjo, Angel ^[1]

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1. San Jose, CA

Apparatus for producing low cost, high purity solar grade Si wherein a reduction reaction, preferably the reduction of SiF.sub.4, by an alkali metal (Na preferred) is carried out by jetting a spray of reactants into a reaction chamber at a rate and temperature which causes the reaction to take place far enough away from the entry region to avoid plugging of reactants at the entry region and wherein separation in the melt is carried out continuously from the reaction and the Si can be cast directly from the melt. The melt separation is provided by openings in the reaction chamber wall between about 2 to about 3.5 millimeters in width. The Si is retained within the reaction chamber due to its surface tension.

• DOE Contract Number: 954471-NAS 7-100
• Assignee: SRI International (Menlo Park, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4781565
• Application Number: 06/835,398
• OSTI ID: 866759
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
obtaining
silicon
fluosilicic
acid
producing
cost
purity
solar
grade
reduction
reaction
preferably
sif
alkali
metal
na
preferred
carried
jetting
spray
reactants
chamber
rate
temperature
causes
entry
region
avoid
plugging
separation
melt
continuously
cast
directly
provided
openings
wall
millimeters
width
retained
due
surface
tension
na preferred
fluosilicic acid
reaction chamber
alkali metal
chamber wall
surface tension
solar grade
purity solar
entry region
obtaining silicon
reduction reaction
melt separation
avoid plugging
cast directly
silicic acid
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