Production of Silicon from SiH4 in a Fluidized Bed, Operation and Results

For an installed silicon-based solar cell panel, about 40% of the energy needed for fabrication is consumed for production of the silicon feedstock. Reducing the energy consumption in this step is therefore crucial in order to minimize the energy payback time and cost of the technology. The most promising alternative to the conventional methods is to use fluidized bed reactors. In this article, we report the results from a novel reactor layout with a selectively cooled distribution arrangement. Important aspects of fludized bed monitoring and operation are described. Two different operation regimes are stated yielding hence porous and dense growth. Further, the method of encapsulating fines by means of more dense depositions is verified, and the nature of the scavenged material is characterized. Also, two different types of fines formation are identified and accounted for.