Low cost silicon solar array project silicon materials task: establishment of the feasibility of a process capable of low-cost, high volume production of silane (step 1) and the pyrolysis of silane to semiconductor-grade silicon (step 2). Quarterly progress report, Jul--Sep 1977

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6498190

Breneman, W C; Farrier, E G; Rexer, J

Extended operation of a small process-development unit routinely produced high quality silane in 97+% yield from dichlorosilane. The production rate was consistent with design loadings for the fractionating column and for the redistribution reactor. A glass fluid-bed reactor was constructed for room temperature operation. The behavior of a bed of silcon particles was observed as a function of various feedstocks, component configurations, and operating conditions. For operating modes other than spouting, the bed behaved in an erratic and unstable manner. A method was developed for casting molten silicon powder into crack-free solid pellets for process evaluation. The silicon powder was melted and cast into thin walled quartz tubes that sacrificially broke on cooling.

• Research Organization: Union Carbide Corp., New York (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS7-100; JPL-954334
• OSTI ID: 6498190
• Report Number(s): N-78-24623; NASA-CR-157100; QPR-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
SILANES
PRODUCTION
SILICON
CASTING
CHEMICAL REACTORS
FLUIDIZED BED
PELLETS
POWDERS
PYROLYSIS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture