Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090089008 | Methods and Systems for Monitoring a Solid-Liquid Interface - Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface, including providing a vessel configured to contain an at least partially melted material; detecting radiation reflected from a surface of a liquid portion of the at least partially melted material; providing sound energy to the surface; measuring a disturbance on the surface; calculating at least one frequency associated with the disturbance; and determining a thickness of the liquid portion based on the at least one frequency, wherein the thickness is calculated based on L=(2m−1)v | 04-02-2009 |
20090116019 | Methods and Systems for Monitoring a Solid-Liquid Interface - Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface, including providing a vessel configured to contain an at least partially melted material; detecting radiation reflected from a surface of a liquid portion of the at least partially melted material that is parallel with the liquid surface; measuring a disturbance on the surface; calculating at least one frequency associated with the disturbance; and determining a thickness of the liquid portion based on the at least one frequency, wherein the thickness is calculated based on | 05-07-2009 |
20100050932 | Apparatus and Method of Direct Electric Melting a Feedstock - This invention relates to an apparatus and a method of direct electric melting a feedstock, such as high purity silicon for use in solar cells or solar modules. The continuous melting apparatus includes a first electrode opposite a second electrode and forming a melting zone. The electric current passes from the first electrode through a feedstock and enters the second electrode. The apparatus also includes an opening for draining a molten feedstock from the melting zones and a catch pan for receiving the molten feedstock from the opening. | 03-04-2010 |
20100051108 | System and Method for Liquid Silicon Containment - This invention relates to a system and a method for liquid silicon containment, such as during the casting of high purity silicon used in solar cells or solar modules. The containment apparatus includes a shielding member adapted to prevent breaching molten silicon from contacting structural elements or cooling elements of a casting device, and a volume adapted to hold a quantity of breaching molten silicon with the volume formed by a bottom and one or more sides. | 03-04-2010 |
20100055020 | Apparatus and Method for a Crucible Design and Tipping Mechanism for Silicon Casting - This invention relates to an apparatus and a method of a crucible design and a tipping mechanism used to cast silicon. The crucible of this invention produces high purity silicon for solar cells and/or solar modules, such as by improving quality and/or reducing impurities in the cast silicon. As impurities concentrate in an uncrystallized portion of the silicon, a portion of the remaining molten silicon is poured or decanted from the main portion of the crucible to a second portion of the crucible. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061916 | High Temperature Support Apparatus and Method of Use for Casting Materials - This invention relates to a system and a method of use for large ceramic member support and manipulation at elevated temperatures in non-oxidizing atmospheres, such as using carbon-carbon composite materials for producing high purity silicon in the manufacture of solar modules. The high temperature apparatus of this invention includes one or more support ribs, one or more cross braces in combination with the one or more support ribs, and a shaped support liner positionable upon the one or more support ribs and the one or more cross braces. | 03-11-2010 |
20100140558 | Apparatus and Method of Use for a Top-Down Directional Solidification System - This invention relates to an apparatus and a method of use for a top-down directional solidification system, such as for casting solar grade silicon. The invention includes a vessel with a pressure relieving device to prevent pressure build up in the liquid as the solidification front advances from a downward direction. The invention also includes a drain to remove impurities, such as the concentration in the remaining liquid phase as casting nears completion. | 06-10-2010 |
20100148403 | Systems and Methods For Manufacturing Cast Silicon - Apparatus and methods are provided for manufacturing cast silicon. The systems and methods include a plurality of inductive coils configured to form a space to contain molten silicon, and configured to generate an electromagnetic field when an electrical current is supplied to the inductive coils to support the molten silicon so that a gap is maintained in a portion of the space between at least one substantially vertical wall of the molten silicon and at least one of the inductive coils, and when a portion of the molten silicon solidifies into a solid silicon ingot as the molten silicon is cooled by the cooling device, a concave liquid/solid interface is formed between the molten silicon and the solid silicon ingot. | 06-17-2010 |
20100192838 | Methods for Manufacturing Monocrystalline or Near-Monocrystalline Cast Materials - Methods are provided for casting one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material. With such methods, a cast body of a monocrystalline form of the one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm. | 08-05-2010 |
20100193031 | Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Cast Silicon From Seed Crystals - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With such methods and apparatuses, a cast body of monocrystalline or bi-crystal silicon may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm is provided. | 08-05-2010 |
20100193989 | Methods Apparatus for Manufacturing Geometric Multi-Crystalline Cast Materials - Methods are provided for casting one or more of a semi-conductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material. With such methods, a cast body of a geometrically ordered multi-crystalline form of the one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material may be formed that is free or substantially free of radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 10 cm. | 08-05-2010 |
20100197070 | Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Cast Silicon From Seed Crystals - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 08-05-2010 |
20100203350 | Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Cast Silicon from Seed Crystals - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 08-12-2010 |
20110129403 | Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Cast Silicon From Seed Crystals - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 06-02-2011 |
20110154879 | Systems and Methods for Monitoring a Solid-Liquid Interface - Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface during a casting process. The systems and methods enable determination of the location of a solid-liquid interface during the casting process. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158887 | Apparatus and method of use for casting system with independent melting and solidification - This invention relates to a two or three-stage apparatus and method of use to produce high purity silicon, such as for use in solar panels and/or photovoltaics. The device of this invention includes a melting apparatus with a delivery device, a holding apparatus with a tipping or transfer mechanism, and at least one solidification apparatus for receiving a molten feedstock. The optimized designs of individual apparatuses function efficiently in combination to produce high purity silicon. | 06-30-2011 |
20120164054 | Impurity Reducing Process and Purified Material - This invention relates to a process for reducing impurities, such as contaminants in silicon suitable for use in solar cells or solar modules. The process includes the step of melting a feedstock with impurities and the step of adding an impurity-removing agent to the feedstock. The process also includes the step of reacting the impurities with the impurity-removing agent to form a high-temperature solid, and the step of separating the high-temperature solid from the feedstock. | 06-28-2012 |
20130213297 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MANUFACTURING CAST SILICON FROM SEED CRYSTALS - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 08-22-2013 |
20130220213 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIQUID SILICON CONTAINMENT - This invention relates to a system and a method for liquid silicon containment, such as during the casting of high purity silicon used in solar cells or solar modules. The containment apparatus includes a shielding ember adapted to prevent breaching molten silicon from contacting structural elements or cooling elements of a casting device, and a volume adapted to hold a quantity of breaching molten silicon with the volume formed by a bottom and one or more sides. | 08-29-2013 |
20130333450 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A SOLID-LIQUID INTERFACE - Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface during a casting process. The systems and methods enable determination of the location of a solid-liquid interface during the casting process. | 12-19-2013 |
20140048012 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MANUFACTURING CAST SILICON FROM SEED CRYSTALS - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050649 | Methods Apparatus for Manufacturing Geometric Multi-Crystalline Cast Materials - Methods are provided for casting one or more of a semi-conductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material. With such methods, a cast body of a geometrically ordered multi-crystalline form of the one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material may be formed that is free or substantially free of radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 10 cm. | 02-20-2014 |
20140102359 | Methods and Apparatus for Manufacturing Monocrystalline Cast Silicon and Monocrystalline Cast Silicon Bodies for Photovoltaics - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With such methods and apparatuses, a cast body of monocrystalline silicon may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm is provided. | 04-17-2014 |
20150013591 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MANUFACTURING CAST SILICON FROM SEED CRYSTALS - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting. | 01-15-2015 |
20150027362 | SEED LAYERS AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SEED LAYERS - This invention relates seed layers and a process of manufacturing seed layers for casting silicon suitable for use in solar cells or solar modules. The process includes the step of positioning tiles with aligned edges to form seams on a suitable surface, and the step of joining the tiles at the seams to form a seed layer. The step of joining includes heating the tiles to melt at least a portion of the tiles, contacting the tiles at both ends of at least one seam with electrodes, using plasma deposition of amorphous silicon, applying photons to melt a portion of the tiles, and/or layer deposition. Seed layers of this invention include a rectilinear shape of at least about 500 millimeters in width and length. | 01-29-2015 |
20150087105 | Methods and Apparatuses for Manufacturing Geometric Multicrystalline Cast Silicon and Geometric Multicrystalline Cast Silicon Bodies for Photovoltaics - Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With such methods and apparatuses, a cast body of geometrically ordered multi-crystalline silicon may be formed that is free or substantially free of radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 10 cm is provided. | 03-26-2015 |