MI 2020 Solutions FINAL

SECTION 02
RENEWABLE ENERGY
05
DYNATEC REACTOR - SPINNING
THE SOLAR REVOLUTION
© Dynatec Engineering AS
CHALLENGE
Producing solar panels requires
the purification of silicon, which
is a slow and energy intensive
process. Currently production
of solar grade silicon is primarily
carried out using the Siemens
reactor. Silicon rods are heated to
between 800 and 1,100 degrees
Celsius, and a silicon containing
gas is injected and thermally
decomposed releasing silicon
that is deposited onto the rods.
To prevent silicon growth on the
walls, these are kept at below
200 degrees Celsius.
INNOVATION
Dynatec has produced a
centrifugal reactor which lowers
the energy intensity of refining
silicon in solar panel production
by 90% compared to the
decomposition reactors currently
in use.
Instead of keeping hot elements
inside a cool chamber, with
Dynatec’s reactor the deposition
takes place on the walls. The
whole reactor is also set into
rotation and built as a centrifuge.
By inverting the process, it is
possible to grow the silicon
without maintaining large
temperature differences.
ACTION
With support from the Research
Council of Norway, Dynatec
has built two demonstration
reactors. The energy consumption
of a decomposition reactor is
currently about 70 kwh/kg, while
the new centrifugal reactor has
demonstrated production of
first grade silicon at less than
5kwh/kg.
POTENTIAL
Having already built two
successful demonstration reactors
the company is now building a
full-scale industrial reactor in
cooperation with a customer.
Dynatec has also founded two
spin off companies where the
centrifugal reactor is to be used
differently and refitted to make
silicon nano-particles of similar
shape and size for both battery
and medical applications.
USEFUL LINKS:
sciencenordic.com/speedyproduction-silicon-solar-cells
NORWAY
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