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Title: Development of a model and computer code to describe solar grade silicon production processes. Sixth Quarterly Report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5861959· OSTI ID:5861959

This program aims at developing mathematical models and computer codes based on these models, which allow prediction of the product distribution in chemical reactors for converting gaseous silicon compounds to condensed-phase silicon. The major interest is in collecting silicon as a liquid on the reactor walls and other collection surfaces. Two reactor systems are of major interest, the Westinghouse SiCl/sub 4//Na reactor in which Si(l) is collected on the flow tube reactor walls and the new AeroChem reactor in which Si(l) droplets formed by the SiCl/sub 4//Na reaction are collected by a jet impingement method. During this quarter the following tasks have been accomplished: (1) formulation of a model for silicon vapor separation/collection from the developing turbulent flow stream within reactors of the Westinghouse type, (2) modification of an available general parabolic code to achieve solutions to the governing partial differential equations (boundary layer type) which describe migration of the vapor to the reactor walls, (3) a parametric study using the boundary layer code to optimize the performance characteristics of the Westinghouse reactor, (4) calculations relating to the collection efficiency of the new AeroChem reactor, and (5) final testing of the modified LAPP code for use as a method of predicting Si(l) droplet sizes in the these reactors.

Research Organization:
Aerochem Research Labs., Inc., Princeton, NJ (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
NAS-7-100-954862
OSTI ID:
5861959
Report Number(s):
DOE/JPL/954862-6; AeroChem-TN-206
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English