Silicon web process development

Technical Report · Tue Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5085180· OSTI ID:5085180

Duncan, C S; Seidensticker, R G; McHugh, J P; Skutch, M E; Hopkins, R H

Silicon dendritic web is a ribbon form of silicon produced from the melt without die shaping, and capable of fabrication into solar cells with greater than 15% AM1 conversion efficiency. This quarterly report describes the work carried out during the period April to June 1980, as part of Phase III of a DOE/JPL-sponsored effort to develop silicon web process technology compatible with the national goals for low cost photovoltaic output power. We have successfully demonstrated eight hours of silicon web growth with closed loop melt level control, a key contract milestone. The result was achieved using a feedback system in which the change in output from a laser melt level sensor was used to control the rate at which silicon pellets were fed to replace the material frozen into web crystal. The melt level was controlled to about +- 0.1mm, well within the range required for stable long term web growth. This is an important step toward the development of a fully automated silicon web growth machine. A second major highlight of this quarter was the completion of an engineering design for a semi-automated web growth machine embodying all the desired features developed so far as part of this program (including e.g. melt replenishment, level sensing and control) as well as some system simplifications. The completed design will serve as a basis for complete system automation.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Research and Development Center
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954654
• OSTI ID: 5085180
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/954654-80/12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CRYSTAL GROWTH
CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS
DENDRITIC WEB GROWTH METHOD
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FEEDBACK
LEVEL INDICATORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT