Gas-lift pumps for flowing and purifying molten silicon

摘要

The embodiments herein relate to a sheet production apparatus. A vessel is configured to hold a melt of a material and a cooling plate is disposed proximate the melt. This cooling plate configured to form a sheet of the material on the melt. A pump is used. In one instance, this pump includes a gas source and a conduit in fluid communication with the gas source. In another instance, this pump injects a gas into a melt. The gas can raise the melt or provide momentum to the melt.

主权项

1. A sheet production apparatus comprising:
a vessel configured to hold a melt of a material, said vessel having a channel corresponding to a freezing area; a cooling plate disposed proximate said melt, said cooling plate configured to form a sheet of said material on said melt in said freezing area; a return of said vessel configured to further hold said melt; a pump comprising a gas source and a first conduit and a second conduit in fluid communication with said gas source, one end of said first conduit being connected to said gas source and another end of said first conduit being disposed inside said second conduit, one end of said second conduit being connected to said return and another end of said second conduit being connected to said freezing area, wherein at least part of said first conduit is disposed above a surface of said melt and wherein said gas source is configured to raise said melt from said return to said freezing area; a first baffle disposed partially in said melt and partially out of said melt, said first baffle disposed between said pump and said cooling plate along a melt flow direction; and a second baffle disposed in said melt on a surface of said channel, said second baffle comprising a protrusion extending upwardly from said surface of said channel into said melt towards said first baffle, said protrusion disposed proximate said first baffle such that an uppermost extending point of said protrusion is substantially vertically aligned beneath said first baffle, and said protrusion is positioned between said pump and said cooling plate along said melt flow direction, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle are configured to constrict and expand the melt when flowing from said pump to said freezing area.