Solids Processing Valve

A dome valve for coupling to a fluidized bed reactor to selectively dispense a silicon product from the fluidized bed reactor, with the fluidized bed reactor comprising a housing with the housing defining a reaction chamber for producing the silicon product and defining a discharge outlet for allowing the silicon product to exit the reaction chamber, said dome valve comprising:

• a valve body defining a pass-through channel in communication with said reaction chamber to allow the silicon product to exit said fluidized bed reactor;
• a valve seat coupled to said valve body within said pass-through channel with said valve seat defining an opening through which the silicon product enters said pass-through channel;
• and
• a domed body having a semi-hemispherical configuration and rotatably disposed within said pass-though channel with said domed body having a sealing surface and an interior surface spaced from said sealing surface;
• wherein said domed body is rotatable within said pass-through channel between a closed position and an open position with said sealing surface of said domed body engaging said valve seat in said closed position for forming a primary seal of said pass-through channel to prevent the selective dispensing of the silicon product from said fluidized bed reactor and wherein said opening defined by said valve seat is at least partially unobstructed by said sealing surface of said domed body in said open position for allowing the selective dispensing of the silicon product from said fluidized bed reactor;
• and
• wherein at least one of said valve seat, said domed body, and said valve body defining said pass-though channel comprise a non-contaminating material for preventing contamination of the silicon product.

A dome valve for selectively dispensing a silicon product from a chamber of a vessel, said dome valve comprising:

• a valve body defining a pass-through channel in communication with the chamber of the vessel to allow the silicon product to exit the vessel;
• a valve seat coupled to said valve body within said pass-through channel with said valve seat defining an opening through which the silicon product enters said pass-through channel;
• and
• a domed body having a semi-hemispherical configuration and rotatably disposed within said pass-though channel with said domed body having a sealing surface and an interior surface spaced from said sealing surface and with said interior surface being concaved;
• wherein said domed body is rotatable within said pass-through channel between a closed position and an open position with said sealing surface of said domed body engaging said valve seat in said closed position for forming a primary seal of said pass-through channel to prevent the selective dispensing of the silicon product from the chamber of the vessel and wherein opening defined by said valve seat is at least partially unobstructed by said sealing surface of said domed body in said open position for allowing the selective dispensing of the silicon product from the chamber of the vessel;
• and
• wherein at least one of said valve seat, said domed body, and said valve body defining said pass-though channel comprise a non-contaminating material for preventing contamination of the silicon product.