Threaded nozzle and closable nozzle valve assembly

A closable nozzle assembly for a heated silicon deposition reactor system, comprising:

• a nozzle configured to extend upwardly into a reaction chamber of a heated silicon deposition reactor system, the nozzle comprising
• an inlet in fluid communication with a gas source, and
• an upwardly facing orifice in fluid communication with the inlet and positioned to inject a gas upwardly into the reaction chamber;
• and
• a valve assembly connected to the nozzle, the valve comprising
• a valve body, and
• a gate pivotally connected to the valve body, wherein the gate is movable between a first position wherein the orifice is at least partially covered in the absence of gas flow, and a second position wherein the orifice is not covered when gas flows through the orifice.

A fluid bed reactor, comprising:

• an outer wall surrounding a reaction chamber;
• a nozzle assembly comprising
• a first member configured to extend upwardly from a bottom wall of a fluid bed reaction chamber, the first member having an inlet at a first end positioned at or below the bottom wall of the fluid bed reaction chamber and an upwardly facing outlet at a distal end that is positioned above the inlet when the nozzle is installed in a fluid bed reactor, wherein the first member defines a passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the first member further comprising threads adjacent to the outlet, and
• a second member having an inlet at a first end and an upwardly facing orifice at a second end, wherein the second member defines a passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the first member outlet, the second member further comprising threads adjacent to the inlet, wherein threads are positioned and cooperatively dimensioned to engage with the threads on the first member such that the first member and the second member are detachably fitted together;
• and
• a gas source in fluid communication with the first member inlet.

A method for maintaining a fluid bed reactor, wherein the fluid bed reactor comprises an outer wall surrounding a reaction chamber and a nozzle assembly comprising (a) a first member configured to extend upwardly from a bottom wall of the reaction chamber, the first member having an inlet at a first end positioned at or below the bottom wall of the reaction chamber and an upwardly facing outlet at a distal end that is positioned above the inlet when the nozzle is installed in a fluid bed reactor, wherein the first member defines a passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the first member further comprising threads adjacent to the outlet, and (b) a second member having an inlet at a first end and an upwardly facing orifice at a second end, wherein the second member defines a passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the first member outlet, the second member further comprising threads adjacent to the inlet, wherein threads are positioned and cooperatively dimensioned to engage with the threads on the first member such that the first member and the second member are capable of being detachably fitted together, the method comprising:

• detaching the second member from the first member by disengaging the second member threads from the first member threads while the fluid bed reactor is in a non-fluidized state;
• removing the second member from the reaction chamber;
• inserting a replacement second member into the reaction chamber, wherein the replacement second member comprises an inlet at a first end an upwardly facing orifice at a second end, wherein the second member defines a passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the replacement second member further comprising threads adjacent to the inlet, wherein the replacement second member threads are positioned and cooperatively dimensioned to engage with the threads on the first member such that the first member and the replacement second member are capable of being detachably fitted together;
• and
• engaging the replacement second member threads with the threads on the first member to provide a nozzle assembly.