EP0208567A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for preparing high-purity metallic silicon
Assignee: JFE Steel Corp
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Filing: 1986-05-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-05-29
Abstract
Abstract High-yield preparation of high-purity metallic silicon is performed by subjecting a stream of oxides of silicon (e.g. in an aerosol) to reaction heat in the presence of a mixture of oxides of silicon and a material of the group including carbon and metallic carbide. Preferably, silicon oxide produced by the reaction is scavenged from exhaust gas leaving the reaction chamber, re-condensed, and returned to the reaction chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Fukuo Aratani
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Fukutake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:04
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B33/00; C01B33/02; C01B33/021; C01B33/023; C01B33/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising: a furnace body defining therein a reaction chamber which has a region heated to a temperature sufficiently high to induce chemical reactions between said first and second materials; a mixture of first and second materials in the form of pellets, being charged within said reaction chamber; and means for directly injecting a stream of second material into said heated region of said reaction chamber for reduction of said second material to metallic silicon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising: a furnace body defining therein a reaction chamber which has a region heated to a temperature sufficiently high to induce chemical reactions between said first and second materials; a mixture of first and second materials in the form of pellets, being charged within said reaction chamber; and means for directly injecting a stream of second material into said heated region of said reaction chamber for reduction of said second material to metallic silicon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mixture employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a pair of arc electrodes having ends opposing to each other across an arcing gap of known dimensions which serves as said heated region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, which further comprises an external heating means for heating the inside of said reaction chamber from outside said furnace so as to expedite the reaction at said heated region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said external heating means performs high-frequency induction heating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises means for collecting gaseous silicon oxide created during the reaction between said first and second materials and re-injecting same into said heated region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said gaseous silicon oxide collecting and re-injecting means and is adapted to induce said gaseous silicon oxide to condense prior to re-injection into said heated region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said gaseous silicon oxide collecting and re-injecting means is disposed within a second material supply passage of said second material injecting means and induces said gaseous silicon oxide to condense onto particle in the stream of second material prior to injection into said heated region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mixture employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising: a furnace body defining therein a reaction chamber; a pair of arc electrodes with ends lying inside said reaction chamber and opposing each other across a arcing gap of known dimensions; a mixture of first and second materials in the form of pellets charged in said reaction chamber; and means for directly injecting a stream of second material into said arcing gap in said reaction chamber to induce reduction of said second material to metallic silicon.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising: a furnace body defining therein a reaction chamber; a pair of arc electrodes with ends lying inside said reaction chamber and opposing each other across a arcing gap of known dimensions; a mixture of first and second materials in the form of pellets charged in said reaction chamber; and means for directly injecting a stream of second material into said arcing gap in said reaction chamber to induce reduction of said second material to metallic silicon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said mixture is employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, which further comprises an external heating means for heating the inside of said reaction chamber from outside said furnace so as to expedite the reaction at said arcing gap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said external heating means performs high-frequency induction heating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, which further comprises means for collecting gaseous silicon oxide created during the reaction between said first and second materials and re-injecting same into said heated region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said gaseous silicon oxide collecting and re-injecting means and is adapted to induce said gaseous silicon oxide to condense prior to re-injection into said heated region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said gaseous silicon oxide collecting and re-injecting means is disposed within a second material supply passage of said second material injecting means and induces said gaseous silicon oxide to condense onto particle in the stream of second material prior to injection into said heated region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said mixture employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said second material injecting means comprises an injection nozzle inserted into said reaction chamber and having an inner end directed toward said arcing gap.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said injection nozzle extends horizontally through a side wall of said furnace body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said pair of arc electrodes are arranged in vertical alignment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, said pair of arc electrodes lie oblique to the horizontal plane and to each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, said injection nozzle extends vertically through a floor of said furnace body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein said pair of arc electrodes are arranged in horizontal alignment.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, characterized by subjecting a powdered first material to reaction-inducing heat in the presence of a mixture of said first and second materials in pellet from.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, characterized by subjecting a powdered first material to reaction-inducing heat in the presence of a mixture of said first and second materials in pellet from.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 28, wherein said mixture employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 29, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 30, which is further characterized. by collecting gaseous silicon oxide created by the reaction, condensing the collected silicon oxide, and re-subjecting the condensed silicon oxide to said reaction heat.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising the steps of: forming a mixture of said first and second material in pellet from and charging the mixture in a reaction chamber; generating an electrical arc across at least part of said reaction chamber; and injecting a stream of second material into said electrical arc for inducing a reaction between said first and second materials.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for preparing high-purity metallic silicon from a first material selected from the group including carbon and metallic carbides and a second material selected from among oxides of silicon, comprising the steps of: forming a mixture of said first and second material in pellet from and charging the mixture in a reaction chamber; generating an electrical arc across at least part of said reaction chamber; and injecting a stream of second material into said electrical arc for inducing a reaction between said first and second materials.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as set forth in claim 32, wherein said mixture employs at least one of carbon and a metallic carbide as said first material and at least one of silicon carbide and silica as said second material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as set forth in claim 33, wherein said stream of second material contains particles of at least one of silicon oxide and silicon dioxide.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as set forth in claim 34, which further comprises a step of collecting gaseous silicon oxide created by the reaction, condensing the collected gaseous silicon oxide, and re-injecting the condensed silicon oxide into said electrical arc with said stream of second material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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