Seminar Details
2016-02-04 (14:00) : From Sand to Silicon Wafers: A Process Systems View of Solar Cell Production
At Euler building (A002)
Organized by Mathematical Engineering
Speaker :
B. Erik Ydstie (Carnegie Mellon University
)
Abstract :
Solar cell manufacture on global scale is of recent origin and the industrial experience as a whole is limited. Only very recently has the industry grown to the point where intermediate products, such as solar grade silicon, silicon wafers, solar cells and solar panels are commodities with global market potential. Many processes are carried out in batch and difficult to adapt for continuous production. Other processes are in a very early stage of development. This talk reviews the production process for silicon solar cells, starting with quartz and ending with wafers. We highlight challenges relevant to the field of process systems engineering, such as process modeling, design and control. Research work in three distinct areas is reviewed: the application of real time optimization in silicon production, the development of scale-up models for a fluidized bed poly-silicon process and a new process concept for silicon wafer production. We will show how process innovation and the application of process systems engineering tools such as design, optimization and control can reduce cost of solar cells by a factor of two or more.