Flat-plate solar array project. Task I. Silicon material: investigation of the hydrochlorination of SiCL/sub 4/. Quarterly report, April 9, 1982-July 8, 1982

Technical Report · Mon Jul 12 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5087154· OSTI ID:5087154

Mui, J. Y.P.

A basic research oriented experimental study on the effect of pressure on the hydrochlorination of SiCl/sub 4/ was carried out. Reaction kinetic measurements on the hydrochlorination of SiCl/sub 4/ and metallurgical grade (m.g.) silicon metal were made at a wide range of experimental variables. The effects of pressure on the reaction rate was studied. As expected, higher pressures produce a higher equilibrium SiHCl/sub 3/ conversion, since the hydrochlorination reaction results in a net volume contraction as product SiHCl/sub 3/ is formed. However, the reaction rate, namely, the rate at which the hydrochlorination reaction reaches its equilibrium SiHCl/sub 3/ conversion, was found to be much faster at low pressures. Reaction kinetic measurements were also carried out at a low pressure of 100 psig as a function of temperatures and H/sub 2//SiCl/sub 4/ feed ratios. A higher reaction temperature produces both a faster reaction rate and a higher equilibrium SiHCl/sub 3/ conversion. A higher H/sub 2//SiCl/sub 4/ feed ratio results a higher partial pressure of hydrogen gas in the hydrochlorination reactor. Thus, the higher partial pressure of hydrogen will drive the equilibrium reaction to produce more SiHCl/sub 3/. The variable H/sub 2//SiCl/sub 4/ feed ratios do not appear to significantly effect the rate of the hydrochlorination reaction. The SEM analysis on the Alloy 400 test sample provides further experimental evidences on the corrosion mechanism of metal alloys in the hydrochlorination reaction environment.

• Research Organization: Solarelectronics, Inc., Bellingham, MA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-956061
• OSTI ID: 5087154
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/956061-4; ON: DE82020508
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COATINGS
CORROSION
DATA
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENATION
INFORMATION
KINETICS
MICROSCOPY
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTIAL PRESSURE
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILICIDES
SILICON CHLORIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE