Flat-Plate Solar Array Project. Task I. Silicon Material. Investigation of the Hydrochlorination of SiCl sub 4 . Second Quarterly Report, October 1, 1981-January 8, 1982

摘要

A new two inch-diameter stainless steel reactor was designed and built to operate at pressures up to 500 psig for the experimental studies on the hydrochlorination of SiCl sub 4 and metallurgical grade (m.g.) silicon metal to SiHCl sub 3 , 3 SiCl sub 4 + 2 H sub 2 + Si = 4 SiHCl sub 3 . After a thorough safety review, the hydrochlorination reactor system was successfully started-up. Preliminary experiments on the hydrochlorination of SiCl sub 4 and m.g. silicon metal were carried out. One experiment was conducted under the same reaction conditions as that carried out previously with the one inch-diameter laboratory reactor. Results of the reaction kinetic measurements with the 2'' reactor show good agreement with the previously obtained results. The effect of pressure on the hydrochlorination reaction was studied. The experiments were carried out at low reactor pressures of 73 psig and 150 psig, respectively. A large pressure effect on the hydrochlorination reaction was observed. In general, higher pressure produces a higher conversion of SiHCl sub 3 but at a slower reaction rate. The effect of temperature on the hydrochlorination reaction was studied at 73 psig. As previously observed, higher reaction temperature gives both a higher conversion of SiHCl sub 3 and a higher reaction rate. Samples of the material of construction for the hydrochlorination reactor were prepared for the corrosion study. Materials include Type 304 stainless steel, carbon steel, Incoloy 800H, Alloy 400 (Monel), Hastelloy B-2 (a Ni/Mo alloy), nickel and copper. These test samples were mounted in a stainless steel rack which was fitted inside the 2'' reactor tube. The corrosion tests are in progress. (ERA citation 07:046203)