LSA large area silicon sheet task: continuous liquid feed Czochralski growth. Quarterly report No. 9, October-December 1979

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5579239· OSTI ID:5579239

Walters, D

Now nearing the end of its second phase, the purpose of this program is the design and development of equipment and processes to demonstrate the continuous growth of crystals, by use of the Czochralski method, suitable for producing monocrystalline silicon for use in solar cells. This involves the growth of at least 150 kg of monocrystalline silicon ingots, 150 mm in diameter, obtained from a single growth container. The approach to meeting this goal is to develop a furnace with continuous liquid replenishment to the growth crucible. The major objectives for the new melt transfer system were accomplished this quarter. This included a reduction in the overall dimensions of the transfer tube system in order to accommodate 150-mm diameter ingot growth from 12-inch diameter crucibles, and the design, development and fabrication of a reusable transfer tube heater. Due to a lack of available space for thermal insulation in the vertical section of the transfer tube, primarily a result of the larger rigid graphite heater and the smaller outer shell, some difficulty was experienced in achieving the proper temperature profile over the melt transfer path. Fabrication of the lump/particle feed mechanism, designed to adapt to the gate valve of the meltdown chamber, was completed and installed. This system is capable of supplying polycrystalline particles to the meltdown chamber in a continuous mode in such a manner that the average mass introduced into the meltdown chamber is in balance with the solidification rate in the growth chamber. A preliminary economic analysis, using the IPEG model, has been performed.

• Research Organization: Siltec Corp., Menlo Park, CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954886
• OSTI ID: 5579239
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/954886-79/9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CZOCHRALSKI METHOD
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
EQUIPMENT
SILICON
CRYSTAL GROWTH
CRUCIBLES
DESIGN
MONOCRYSTALS
PERFORMANCE
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS
CRYSTALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SEMIMETALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture