Basic physicochemical model of carbothermic smelting of silicon

Abstract

Using a Selektor software package, a basic four-reservoir physicochemical model of silicon smelt- ing in ore-smelting furnaces (OSF), which describes the process of Si production, is developed. In forming the model, the method of series reactors is used with the application of known thermodynamic databases. The dynamic reservoirs meeting the basic temperature zones of an OSF hearth, the matrix of compositions of enter- ing charge components with allowance made for the discharge coefficients, and the lists of probable compo- nents of the system are determined; and a schematic of the process balance is drawn up. The results of solving the model by the reservoirs for the specified temperature range with introduction of 15 independent components are presented. The obtained thermodynamic model of Si smelting differs from the previously developed ones by introduction of numerous impurity elements and describes the actual technological process of silicon pro- duction in OSFs adequately.