Polycrystalline Silicon Rod Removal Device for Reactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for removing polycrystalline silicon rods from reactors are inefficient for large, inclined, or unevenly shaped rods, leading to contamination and increased reactor downtime, as they cannot safely handle rods with varying diameters or those that touch each other, and do not allow for targeted removal from within the reactor.
Innovation Solution
A device with a body having an outer and inner wall that encloses U-shaped rod pairs, allowing safe and low-contamination removal using a crane, cable hoist, or gripper, enabling pairwise removal from within the reactor and accommodating rods with high surface roughness or instability, with options for a steel or coated inner wall and a plastic bag for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional removal devices are used for large, inclined, or unevenly shaped rods, then removal can be performed, but contamination increases and reactor downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removal device divides the reactor interior into multiple zones with separate removal paths. Multiple robotic arms operate independently in different segments, allowing simultaneous removal of multiple rods without interference. Each arm has its own manipulation device and path, preventing contamination between operations and enabling reliable handling of various rod configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate manipulation devices between the rods and the external environment. These devices include robotic arms with specialized grippers that act as intermediaries to handle rods without direct human contact or conventional device interference. The manipulation devices transfer rods through controlled paths with protective barriers, minimizing contamination while ensuring safe removal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rods with varying diameters or touching rods are removed using existing devices, then removal is attempted, but the process becomes unsafe and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulation devices feature dynamic, adjustable grippers and arms that can adapt to different rod diameters and shapes. The robotic arms have multiple degrees of freedom and adjustable end-effectors that can conform to cylindrical, elliptical, or irregular rod geometries. This dynamic adaptability allows safe handling of touching rods or rods with varying diameters along their length, while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs parameter changes in the manipulation device configuration to accommodate different rod characteristics. The robotic system can adjust gripper force, arm positioning, and path parameters based on detected rod dimensions and orientation. This parameter adaptability enables safe removal of rods with varying diameters or touching configurations while maintaining operational simplicity through automated parameter adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If maximum rod diameter deposition is pursued, then rod size increases, but removal becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical removal systems with automated robotic manipulation devices. These devices use controlled mechanical motion with multiple degrees of freedom to handle large-diameter rods, substituting manual or simple mechanical crane operations. The robotic system can precisely manipulate and remove large rods efficiently, maintaining manufacturing precision for maximum rod diameters while improving removal speed and productivity through automated coordination of multiple arms operating in parallel.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for removing polycrystalline silicon rod pairs from a Siemens reactor has a body dimensioned to fit over a single rod pair. Once the rod pair is within the body, the body and enclosed rod pair is removed.