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:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Frederick Schmid, Marblehead, MA (US);
Chandra P Khattak, Danvers, MA (US);
Assignee:
Crystal Systems, Inc., Salem, MA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C30B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
117 79 ; 117204 ; 117206 ; 4222451 ;
Abstract
An apparatus for purifying metallurgical grade silicon to produce solar grade silicon has a container for holding molten silicon and one or more submergible torches for providing a flame surrounded by inert gas to heat the molten silicon so that the reaction time is prolonged, to create turbulence, and to introduce silica powder and water vapor for reactions with molten silicon. The molten silicon is then directionally solidified by providing the container in a coolant tank and controlling the coolant level with controllable valves so that further purification is achieved by segregating impurities.