Patent ID: 9664448
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: C01B,C30B,F27B,F27D

Claim:
1. An apparatus for the melting of semiconductor feedstock, the apparatus comprising: a container for holding pieces of solid feedstock; and at least one heating means for heating the feedstock inside the container, wherein the container comprises a tube extending in a longitudinal direction for holding the pieces of feedstock and a bottom comprising an overflow pan, wherein the tube is arranged above the bottom, wherein the bottom comprises at least one outlet for letting out melted feedstock by overflow, wherein the heating means for heating comprises at least one coil consisting of a refractory material, said heating means further comprising a bottom heater arranged below the overflow pan, wherein said coil and the bottom heater are connected to an AC power source, respectively, wherein a predetermined rate of melting feedstock is attained by controlling power supplied to the coil, wherein a temperature of melted feedstock in the overflow pan is controlled by controlling power supplied to the bottom heater such that the melted feedstock in the overflow pan is maintained in a liquid state independent of control of the coil.