Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation

Hemlock Semiconductor Operations LLC

Michael John Molnar

Arvid Neil Arvidson

Terence Lee Horstman

Chris Tim Schmidt

Roger Dale Spencer, Jr

Max E Dehtiar

John Victor Bucci

S B Reddy Karri

Ted M Knowlton

Patrick J Harder

Raymond Anthony Cocco

Don Baranowski

Matthew Bishop

P Christian Naberhaus

Sb Reddy Karri

A fluidized bed reactor includes a gas distributor, a tapered section above the gas distributor, and an expanded head above the tapered section. The gas distributor defines a plurality of inlets surrounding a product withdrawal tube, which extends away from the fluidized bed reactor. The fluidized bed reactor is useful in a process for fluidizing relatively large particles, such as Geldart Group B particles and/or Geldart Group D particles, where said particles are in a bubbling fluidized bed residing, in whole or in part, in the tapered section. The fluidized bed reactor and process may be used for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon.

Tapered fluidized bed reactor and process for its use

A method for recharging a crucible with polycrystalline silicon comprises adding flowable chips to a crucible used in a Czochralski-type process. Flowable chips are polycrystalline silicon particles made from polycrystalline silicon prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process, and flowable chips have a controlled particle size distribution, generally nonspherical morphology, low levels of bulk impurities, and low levels of surface impurities. Flowable chips can be added to the crucible using conventional feeder equipment, such as vibration feeder systems and canister feeder systems.

Flowable chips and methods for the preparation and use of same, and apparatus for use in the methods

A dome valve selectively dispenses a silicon product from a chamber of a vessel. The dome valve comprises a valve body defining a pass-through channel in communication with the chamber of the vessel to allow the silicon product to exit the vessel. The dome valve also comprising a valve seat defining an opening through which the silicon product enters the pass-through channel. The dome valve further comprising a domed body having a semi-hemispherical configuration. The domed body has a sealing surface. The domed body is rotatable between a closed position and an open position for allowing the selective dispensing of the silicon product from the vessel.

Solids processing valve

A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.

Silicon production with a fluidized bed reactor integrated into a Siemens-type process

Silicon production with a fluidized bed reactor integrated into a siemens-type process

Silicon deposits are suppressed at the wall of a fluidized bed reactor by a process in which an etching gas is fed near the wall of the reactor. The etching gas includes tetrachlorosilane. A Siemens reactor may be integrated into the process such that the vent gas from the Siemens reactor is used to form a feed gas and/or etching gas fed to the fluidized bed reactor.

Silicon production with a fluidized bed reactor utilizing tetrachlorosilane to reduce wall deposition

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Freeland, MI, United States of America

Michael John Molnar