Premelter for preliminarily melting silicon to be supplied to main crucible and control method thereof

A premelter for pre-melting silicon before supplying to a main crucible, comprising:

• a preliminary crucible configured to heat silicon in a solid state to convert the silicon into a molten state, and to supply the silicon in the molten state to the main crucible in which an ingot is grown;
• a preliminary crucible moving module for moving a position of the preliminary crucible so that the preliminary crucible can heat the silicon in the solid state or supply the silicon in the molten state to the main crucible;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the position of the preliminary crucible by operating the preliminary crucible moving module,
• wherein the preliminary crucible moving module comprises a support member rotatably supporting one side of the preliminary crucible facing the main crucible,
• wherein the support member is formed in a pin shape extending upward,
• wherein the preliminary crucible has a hemispherical pin accommodating groove formed on a bottom surface thereof connected to the support member to accommodate an upper end of the support member formed in the pin shape, and
• wherein the hemispherical pin accommodating groove is configured to accommodate the support member without any separate restraining device.