The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 27, 1994
Filed:
May. 07, 1993
David E Schoonover, Springfield, OR (US);
Ronald F Silver, Eugene, OR (US);
Martin D Young, Springfield, OR (US);
Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a method for controlling the carbon balance of a silicon smelting furnace. The inventors lave discovered that when the concentration of calcium within the silicon formed in the furnace is maintained within a range of about 0.4 to 2.0 weight percent, the calcium yield of the furnace is a rapid and sensitive indicator of the carbon balance of the furnace. More specifically, the inventors have found that a calcium yield of less than about 80 weight percent indicates a negative carbon balance in the furnace, a calcium yield of greater than about 90 weight percent indicates an excess carbon balance in the furnace, and a calcium yield within a range of about 80 weight percent to 90 weight percent indicates a furnace in carbon balance. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, calcium yield is used in conjunction with a harmonic volts parameter and a electrode consumption measurement to control carbon balance of the furnace.