Solar silicon refinement
|
To meet the requirements of Photovoltaic applications, Silicon has to be ultrapurified to grades of 99.999999% (8N) or even beyond, in a process that accounts for between one fourth and one third of the total energy consumption in the production of a PV module, greatly impacting on the cost of the final product. The conventional ultrapurification process consists of converting metallurgical silicon in a volatile compound, typically trichlorosilane, that is purified by distillation, and recovered back as solid silicon in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. Our research relies on having a deep understanding of the silicon purification process. Through theoretical models describing heat transfer and thermodynamics, combined with computational fluid-dynamics modeling (CFD) and experimental research in a laboratory scale CVD reactor, energy saving strategies are identified and ways to implement them are pursued. The Institute also supports initiatives to develop alternative purification processes that try to avoid the conversion to chlorosilane, following what is called a “metallurgical route”, with high potential for cost reduction. With an integral view of the complete value chain, from feedstock to solar cell, purity requirements are established, and ways to improve material quality are explored. |
|
 |
 |
||
Contact person: Prof. Carlos del Cañizo |
|
|
Selected publications
|
