silicon for the chemical and solar industry XIII

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New and future applications of different metallurgical silicon

qualities: how could we produce them?

Míguez JM

, Pérez A

, Souto A

, Diéguez J

and Ordás R

FerroGlobe, Spain

Abstract

Each year we could find new applications for silicon and most of them are related with

the most dynamic sectors of the economy. Silicon is today not only a raw material but

also a vector of development in the new economy (3D printing, batteries, biomedicine…).

Some years ago there were only two main markets for metallurgical silicon: aluminum

and silicone market. In fact, in 2002, Aluminum and Silicone market represented nearly

96% of the market. In 2015, the irruption of PV applications with 20% of the market share

have changed the picture. In that period production companies adapted their structures to

those relevant changes. Are we now ready for the changes the new economy are

introducing in our markets? In this paper we will try to summarize some new applications

we see coming in the horizon and the response we can offer from FerroGlobe to these

changes in the end markets of silicon.

Introduction

During the development of the production process for Solar Grade Silicon, Silicio

FerroSolar has tested several technologies. This technologies for silicon purification are

suitable for the production of any special quality between 3N to 6N purities. We could

choose one or some of them to fulfill the customer’s requirements. We can even develop

tailored solutions adjusting the levels of certain impurities by doping or obtaining certain

granulometries by clean grinding and milling techniques. Some new applications for

Silicon and some of our technologies are shown below.

Metallic heat transfer fluids

Silicon and some of its alloys are ideal candidates to build massive storage solutions

owing to its low cost and abundance on earth. In the case of silicon, other advantages of

are the high latent heat (1,8 MJ/kg) and the high melting temperature (1410ºC).

Datas et al. proposes a new TES (Thermal energy storage) concept that has the potential

to achieve one of the highest energy densities among the existing energy storage solutions

and uses silicon, an abundant, cheap and safe material. In this system, energy is stored

as latent heat in the phase change of silicon and the energy is released in the form of

electricity by means of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells (Fig 1). The energy not converted

in electricity by the TPV cells is delivered in the form of heat (e.g. hot water).