Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing highly pure, granular silicon with a narrow particle-size distribution by decomposing silanes or halosilanes in a fluidised bed and epitaxially growing silicon on silicon seed particles, which method is characterised in that the gas containing silicon is supplied to the reaction chamber in an upward flow and the contents of the fluidised bed are separated in a continuous or discontinuous manner, whereby a particle stream from the fluidised bed is supplied to a separator mounted outside the fluidised bed, particles of the desired size are separated and undersized particles are returned to the fluidised bed. The invention also relates to a device and the use thereof for carrying out said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing silane or hydrochlorosilanes by disproportionation of a higher chlorinated hydrochlorosilane or a mixture of said hydrochlorosilanes in the presence of a catalyst. Before the catalyst is used, it is a) washed with hyper-pure water in one or several steps; b) transferred in the water-moist state to the reactor in which the disproportionation is to proceed; c) treated in the reactor with boiling methanol or rinsed with anhydrous methanol; and d) the methanol is removed from the catalyst by evacuation and/or stripping with inert gas. The invention further relates to a method for treating disproportionation catalysts.

Abstract: A device for electrically heating a vertically erect chamber comprising several heating zones arranged vertically one above the other. The components of the device, with the exception of the insulating components, are made from graphite materials. Each zone (Z) comprises a number of supports (1), arranged in an essentially even distribution around the chamber for heating, which simultaneously serve as electrical supplies for the heater, and the heater for each zone (Z) is fixed at one end and longitudinally displaceable at the other end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing trichlorosilane by reacting silicon with hydrogen, silicon tetrachloride and, optionally, hydrogen chloride, whereby the silicon is provided in comminuted form, and the silicon is mixed with a catalyst during comminution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing granular silicon by thermal decomposition of a gas containing silicon in a fluidized bed, said decomposition occurring in the presence of free-flowing mobile elements. Preferably, said free-flowing mobile elements become devoid of silicon in a separate procedural step, said silicon being deposited during decomposition of gas containing silicon, by reacting with hydrogen halides, halogens, alkyl halogenides, aryl halogenides or combinations of halogen and/or hydrogen halide and/or oxidized mineral acids and/or by thermal treatment of said elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing highly pure, granular silicon by decomposing a gas containing silicon in a procedure comprising at least two operating states, at least one state comprising the increased formation of nucleus particles from the decomposition of said gas containing silicon and at least one other state comprising the increased separation of the silicon with expansion of the diameter of the silicon granules. The invention also relates to the use of silicon produced in this way and to highly pure, granular silicon particles which are characterised by a coreless structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing globular grains of high-purity silicon by atomising a silicon melt (6) in an ultrasonic field (10). Globular grains having a grain size of 50 ?m can be produced by means of said method and device and can be used to separate high-purity silicon from silane in the fluid bed. The silicon melt (6) is fed into the ultrasonic field (10) at a distance of <50 mm in relation to a field node, and the atomised silicon leaves the ultrasonic field (10) at a temperature close to the liquidus point. The invention also relates to a use of the product produced according to the inventive method or using the inventive device, as particles for producing high-purity silicon from silane in a fluid bed.

Abstract: Silane is produced in a continuous process by disproportionating trichlorsilane in at least 2 recreation areas for reaction/distillation, which are run through by a countercurrent of steam and liquid in the presence of catalytically active solid under a pressure which ranges between 500 mbar and 50 bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing silane (SiH4) by a) reacting metallurgical silicon with silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) and hydrogen (H2), to form a crude gas stream containing trichlorosilane (SiHCl3) and silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4), b) removing impurities from the resulting crude gas stream by washing with condensed chlorosilanes, c) condensing and subsequently, separating the purified crude gas stream by distillation, d) returning the partial stream consisting essentially of SiCl4 to the reaction of metallurgical silicon with SiCl4 and H2, e) disproportionating the partial stream containing SiHCl3, to form SiCl4 and SiH4 and f) returning the SiH4 formed by disproportionation to the reaction of metallurgical silicon with SiCl4 and H2, the crude gas stream containing trichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride being liberated from solids as far as possible by gas filtration before being washed with the condensed chlorosilanes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hyper-pure, granular silicon by decomposing a gas containing silicon in a reactor consisting of a silicon carbide-based, carbon-fiber reinforced material; to a corresponding reactor; and to the use of said reactor for producing silicon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing anhydrous acids and hydrohalogens from trichlorosilane by contacting the trichlorosilane with solid bases. The invention further relates to the use of the trichlorosilane so purified in the production of silane and/or super-pure silicon.