Tapered fluidized bed reactor and process for its use
First Claim
1. A process for preparing polycrystalline silicon in a fluidized bed reactor, where the process comprises:
- feeding gases comprising hydrogen and a silicon bearing source gas comprising a silicon monomer into a bubbling fluidized bed containing silicon particles, where at least a portion of the bubbling fluidized bed resides in a tapered section of the fluidized bed reactor, where the tapered section expands upward and outward at a cone angle from vertical;
feeding silicon particles into the fluidized bed reactor above the tapered section;
heating the fluidized bed reactor, thereby causing thermal decomposition of the silicon monomer to produce polycrystalline silicon on surfaces of the silicon particles, thereby producing larger diameter particles; and
removing the larger diameter particles from the fluidized bed reactor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
39 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A process for preparing polycrystalline silicon in a fluidized bed reactor, where the process comprises:
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feeding gases comprising hydrogen and a silicon bearing source gas comprising a silicon monomer into a bubbling fluidized bed containing silicon particles, where at least a portion of the bubbling fluidized bed resides in a tapered section of the fluidized bed reactor, where the tapered section expands upward and outward at a cone angle from vertical; feeding silicon particles into the fluidized bed reactor above the tapered section; heating the fluidized bed reactor, thereby causing thermal decomposition of the silicon monomer to produce polycrystalline silicon on surfaces of the silicon particles, thereby producing larger diameter particles; and removing the larger diameter particles from the fluidized bed reactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification