Continuous melt replenishment for crystal growth
AssigneeEvergreen Solar, Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Wallace, Jr., Emanuel M. Sachs, Jennifer Martz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention features a method of continuous crystalline growth. A granular source material is introduced into a hopper. A volume of the granular source material exiting the hopper is disposed on a translationally moving belt. The volume of the granular source material forms an angle of repose with the moving belt. The granular source material disposed on the moving belt is continuously fed into a crucible comprising a melt of the granular source material at a rate based on the angle of repose, the speed of the belt, and the size of the opening of the hopper. A crystalline ribbon is continuously grown by solidifying the melt.
Claims13
A system for continuous ribbon crystal growth comprising:
- a feeder for providing a granular source material in a pile forming an angle of repose with a substantially planar surface;
- a crucible for holding a melt of the granular source material;
- a pair of strings passing through the crucible for stabilizing a crystalline ribbon grown from the melt;
- and
- a translationally moving belt for continuously delivering the granular source material from the feeder to the crucible at a rate based on the angle of repose.
A system for introducing a source material into a melt for use in a continuous crystalline growth system comprising:
- a feeder for providing a granular source material in a pile forming an angle of repose with a substantially planar surface;
- a crucible for holding a melt of the granular source material;
- and
- a translationally moving belt for continuously delivering the granular source material from the feeder to the crucible at a rate based on the angle of repose, the belt comprising at least one raised lip disposed near an edge of the belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.