Patents by Inventor Dieter Block

Dieter Block has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7323155
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Solarworld Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Klein, Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Werner Dick, Dirk Müller, Johannes-Peter Schäfer
  • Patent number: 7157063
    Abstract: Process wherein the vanadium present in the chromium ore chromite is recovered as vanadium pentoxide during the course of the fusion of the chromium ore with alkali and its work-up to produce sodium chromate solution and sodium dichromate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Weber, Hans-Dieter Block, Michael Batz, Jost Halstenberg, Michael Lumm, Roland-Luiz Roth, Dawie Van Der Merre
  • Patent number: 6951637
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: SolarWorld Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Udo Kräuter, Peter Schreckenberg
  • Patent number: 6942844
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Solarworld Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Müller, Georg Ronge, Johannes-Peter Schäfer, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Ulrike Strauss, Hans-Dieter Block
  • Patent number: 6905576
    Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of silane by catalytic disproportionation of trichlorosilane in a reactive/distillative reaction zone having a catalyst bed of catalytically active solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: SolarWorld AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Dirk Müller, Johannes-Peter Schäfer, Georg Ronge
  • Patent number: 6887448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of high purity silicon, characterized by the following steps: a) reaction of metallic silicon with silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4), hydrogen (H2) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) at a temperature of 500 to 800° C. and a pressure of 25 to 40 bar to give a trichlorosilane-containing (SiHCl3) feed gas stream, b) removal of impurities from the resultant trichlorosilane-containing feed gas stream by scrubbing with condensed chlorosilanes at a pressure of 25 to 40 bar and a temperature of 160 to 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: SolarWorld AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Leslaw Mleczko, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Rainer Weber, Knud Werner, Dietmar Schwanke, Johannes-Peter Schäfer, Gebhard Wagner
  • Patent number: 6852301
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Solarworld Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Leslaw Mleczko, Andreas Bulan, Rainer Weber, Sigurd Buchholz, Torsten Sill
  • Patent number: 6843972
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Solarworld Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Klein, Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkühler, Werner Dick, Johannes-Peter Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20040101463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing trichlorosilane, whereby silicon is reacted with hydrogen, silicon tetrachloride and optionally hydrogen chloride, said silicon containing iron in the form of homogeneously distributed iron silicide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Bulan, Rainer Weber, Hans-Dieter Block
  • Publication number: 20040091412
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Dirk Muller, Georg Ronge, Johannes-Peter Schafer, Hans-Joachim Leimkuhler, Ulrike Strauss, Hans-Dieter Block
  • Publication number: 20040062702
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Leslaw Mleczko, Andreas Bulan, Rainer Weber, Sigurd Buchholz, Torsten Sill
  • Publication number: 20040045834
    Abstract: Process for recovering the vanadium present in the chromium ore chromite, as vanadium pentoxide, as a by-product from the vanadium-containing sodium chromate solution produced in the process of preparing sodium chromate and sodium dichromate from said ore, by precipitation of calcium vanadate from the sodium chromate solution, treatment of the precipitate with water and sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, carbon dioxide or sodium carbonate and carbon dioxide, to precipitate calcium carbonate and electrolysis of the solution remaining after separation of the calcium carbonate precipitate, to produce vanadium pentoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Weber, Hans-Dieter Block, Michael Batz
  • Publication number: 20040047797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of high purity silicon, characterized by the following steps: a) reaction of metallic silicon with silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4), hydrogen (H2) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) at a temperature of 500 to 800° C. and a pressure of 25 to 40 bar to give a trichlorosilane-containing (SiHCl3) feed gas stream, b) removal of impurities from the resultant trichlorosilane-containing feed gas stream by scrubbing with condensed chlorosilanes at a pressure of 25 to 40 bar and a temperature of 160 to 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Leslaw Mleczko, Hans-Joachim Leimkuhler, Rainer Weber, Knud Werner, Dietmar Schwanke, Johannes-Peter Schafer, Gebhard Wagner
  • Publication number: 20040042949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for separating aluminium from chlorosilanes, in particular for separating aluminium trichloride from silicon tetrachloride or trichlorosilane or from mixtures of silicon tetrachloride or trichlorosilane. According to the invention, aluminium chloride is removed from the chlorosilanes silicon tetrachloride and trichlorosilane in a continuous process, without the addition of admixtures, to obtain a residual content of aluminium that is as low as required, by separating the aluminium trichloride and the chlorosilane by distillation, at a temperature approximately greater than 160° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Rainer Weber, Gunter Olf, Hans-Joachim Leimkuhler, Johannes-Peter Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040026330
    Abstract: Process wherein the vanadium present in the chromium ore chromite is recovered as vanadium pentoxide during the course of the fusion of the chromium ore with alkali and its work-up to produce sodium chromate solution and sodium dichromate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Weber, Hans-Dieter Block, Michael Batz, Jost Halstenberg, Michael Lumm, Roland-Luiz Roth, Dawie Van Der Merre
  • Publication number: 20040030171
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Klein, Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkuhler, Werner Dick, Dirk Muller, Johannes-Peter Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040028594
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Klein, Hans-Dieter Block, Hans-Joachim Leimkuhler, Werner Dick, Johannes-Peter Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040016392
    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 &mgr;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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Block, Udo Krauter, Peter Schreckenberg
  • Publication number: 20030219367
    Abstract: A process for recovering the vanadium present in the chromium ore chromite. as ammonium metavanadate, as a by-product of the fusion of the chromium ore with alkali and its work-up to produce sodium chromate solution and sodium dichromate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Weber, Hans-Dieter Block, Michael Batz
  • Publication number: 20020044904
    Abstract: Process for preparing trichlorosilane by reacting silicon with silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen and optionally hydrogen chloride using catalysts, where silicon is intensively mixed with the catalyst before the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Bulan, Rainer Weber, Leslaw Mleczko, Hans-Dieter Block