Abstract:
An adsorbent gas scrubber is provided in which the processing efficiency of the gas generated during semiconductor manufacturing can be increased, as the idle time of the system is reduced. The above mentioned object and other objects are accomplished by an adsorbent gas scrubber in accordance with aspects of the present invention which comprise an induction tube being connected to a gas inlet attached with a first pressure gauge for measuring a pressure of the entered gas, and an adsorbent case placed adjacent to the induction tube. The adsorbent case contains a layered arrangement of multiple catalytic-adsorbent members which adsorb the gas that flows from the induction tube to a gas outlet attached with a second pressure gauge for measuring pressure of the processed gas being discharged. A series of gas passage tubes placed at the bottom portion of the induction tube and the adsorbent case supply gas to the catalytic-adsorbent members. A gas passage means controls the flow of gas that comes in from the induction tube such that the gas is either allowed to or blocked from flowing into each catalytic-adsorbent members placed in the adsorbent case, based on the pressure difference between the first pressure gauge and the second pressure gauge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a gas scrubber which can dispose of harmful gases used in or generated by a semiconductor manufacturing process. More particularly, the gas scrubber is an adsorbent gas scrubber which treats gas by letting the gas pass through an adsorbent case having catalytic-adsorbent particles contained within multiple layers of catalytic-adsorbent members. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, when manufacturing a semiconductor product, gases having harmful, flammable and corrosive properties are used. For example, in the process of forming a semiconductor, Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Low Pressure CVD, Plasma CVD, Plasma Corrosion, and Epitaxy CVD processes may be used which employ gas materials such as SiH 4 , SiH 2 Cl 2 , 4NH 3 , NO, AsH 3 , PH 3 , B 2 H 6 , BCl 3 . 
     The gas produced during the process of the semiconductor manufacturing contains harmful materials, such as SiH 4 , SiH 2 Cl 2 , 4NH 3 , AsH 3 , PH 3 , B 2 H 6 , BCl 3 , WF 6 , PBr 3 , (C 2 H 5 O) 4 Si, (C 4 H 9 ) 3 Al, and the organic materials accumulated in a high density form. In order to prevent or minimize environmental contamination or pollution through leakage of the gas materials into the atmosphere, regulations for the application of the law are strictly enforced to purify the exhaust gas before the gas is exhausted into the atmosphere. 
     There are typically three methods used to dispose the toxic gases used or produced during, for example, semiconductor manufacturing. First, flammable toxic components contained in the exhaust gas may be burned at high temperature of 500° C. or 800° C. within a burning chamber. Second, water-soluble toxic components contained in the exhaust gas may be dissolved by wetting the water-soluble toxic components as they pass through water stored in a bath. Third, certain toxic components which cannot be burned or melted, may be adsorbed whereby toxic components are decomposed physically and chemically gas they pass through the adsorbents. 
     When the above burning method is used for disposing the toxic components contained in the exhaust gas, SiH 4 , one of the toxic components contained in the generated gas, may be burned with oxygen in air resulting in creation of silicon dioxide. Unfortunately, the silicon dioxide causes several problems. First, the silicon dioxide particles may form as a result of a gas phase reaction which could clog gas passages in the burner, and in some instances cause mechanical problems in the burning system. Second, the silicon dioxide is generally collected through a washing process and water used in the washing process must be treated to completely remove any of remaining chemical particles or other contaminated materials before disposal. 
     The wetting method consists of two processes, one being a wet chemical solution which is used to dispose the toxic components of the exhaust gas that are water-soluble, and the other being a dry chemical solution which is used to dispose non-water soluble material by dissolving them chemically. However, even though the above wetting method is effective in treating the gas produced during the semiconductor manufacturing process, it is generally less preferred because the used water or chemical solution must be treated before being discharged from a factory in order to meet more toughened world-wide water pollution standards. 
     The gas adsorbent method is used to dispose the toxic components contained in the gas by creating the following examples of physical or chemical reactions while certain toxic components pass through the catalytic-adsorbent material: 
      2SiH 4 +WF 6 →WSi 2 +6HF+H 2   
     
       
         SiH 4 →Si+2H 2   
       
     
     
       
         B 2 H 6 →2B+3H 2   
       
     
     However, the above adsorbent method has a problem in that the adsorbent must be frequently replaced with new adsorbent because the adsorbent particles agglutinate with the toxic compounds and, over time, clog the gas flow passages therebetween. This will eventually lead to a decrease in a gas flow rate of the gas that passes through the adsorbent particles. 
     Accordingly, it would be of benefit to provide an adsorbent gas scrubber which can effectively dispose the harmful gas generated during the semiconductor manufacturing process and decrease the system idle time by providing a construction that allows for easy replacement of the adsorbent case and adsorbent particles within the case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problems outlined above are in large part solved by an adsorbent gas scrubber. The present gas scrubber may include a cabinet which houses an induction tube that functions similar to a manifold or valve for coupling gas from a gas intake to corresponding gas passage tubes. The gas inlet is preferably attached to and in gaseous communication with a first pressure gauge for measuring a pressure of gas entering the gas inlet (or gas intake valve). The cabinet further houses an adsorbent case placed adjacent to the induction tube. The adsorbent case may include multiple layers of catalytic-adsorbent members configured to adsorb the gas as the gas flows from the induction tube into the adsorbent case. Coupled to an output of the induction tube is a gas outlet. Attached to the outlet valve is a second pressure gauge for measuring pressure of the processed gas being discharged. A gas passage extends at the bottom portion of the induction tube and the adsorbent case for supplying the gas to a catalytic-adsorbent member located in the bottom of the adsorbent case. Gas flow from the induction tube to the adsorbent case is controlled among several layers of catalytic-adsorbent members to either allow gas flow or to block gas flow into each of several catalytic-adsorbent members stacked a spaced distance from each other in the adsorbent case. The gas flow is regulated based on the pressure difference between the first pressure gauge and the second pressure gauge. 
     According to another embodiment, the adsorbent gas scrubber further includes a pipe tube which connects the gas intake and the gas outlet. A first open/shut valve is preferably located on the gas intake in the path between the gas intake and the gas outlet, and a second open/shut valve is preferably placed in the pipe tube. 
     According to yet another embodiment, the gas passage tube between the induction tube and the adsorbent case includes a multi-layer piston material that operates when the pressure difference between the intake gas pressure and the outlet gas pressure measured by the first and the second pressure gauge is larger than the threshold value. The multi-layer piston material preferably is several pistons, each of which control gas flow within a respective gas passage tube that extends between an opening within the induction tube and an opening within a catalytic adsorbent case. Similar to the catalytic adsorbent cases stacked within the adsorbent case, gas passage tubes deliver gas into respective cases and the gas flow therein is regulated by moving the associated piston. Thus, the pistons controls flow within the multi-layer tube material that extends between one side of the induction tube and one side of the adsorbent case, where a stacked arrangement of adsorbent cases reside. 
     Preferably, one end of each gas passage tube is connected to an opening of the induction tube, and a middle portion of the gas passage tube is connected to and opens onto an opening of the adsorbent case and, more particularly, to an opening of the adsorbent case. The piston reciprocates within the gas passage tube and resides from a location opposite the end connected to the induction tube when the induction tube becomes connected to the adsorbent case. 
     The above mentioned catalytic-adsorbent member is fixed onto an inner surface of the adsorbent case by a supporter. The supporter is placed between pairs of adsorbent cases stacked a spaced distance from each other within the cylindrically shaped adsorbent case having an opening at the top of the case. Each adsorbent case includes a tube opening that is connected to the middle part of a respective gas passage tube. The catalytic-adsorbent particles within each member is preferably carbon or Al 2 O 3 , or particles coated with the oxygen metals. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adsorbent gas scrubber in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an adsorbent case of the adsorbent gas scrubber shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a catalytic-adsorbent case being located on the adsorbent case. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a valve piston to open and close the gas passage on the adsorbent gas scrubber in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adsorbent gas scrubber in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an adsorbent case of the adsorbent gas scrubber shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As illustrated in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, the adsorbent gas scrubber  1  includes a cabinet  2  that is preferably rectangular in shape. A door is hinged at one side of the cabinet  2  (not shown in the drawing) and can be closed and opened from outside. The gas generated during the semiconductor manufacturing process is led to flow into the induction tube  3  placed in the cabinet  2  from the gas intake  5  that runs through the upper portion of cabinet  2 . The gas inducted from the gas intake  5  is monitored by the first pressure gauge P 1  placed on the gas intake  5 . The top of the induction tube  3  is connected with the gas intake  5  by way of the flange connection means, and the bottom of the induction tube  3 , which is detachable, is mounted on at the bottom of the cabinet  2 . 
     The cylinder-like adsorbent case  4  is placed near the induction tube  3 , and the top of the adsorbent case  4  is tightly covered with a circular plate  17 . The upper center portion of the circular plate  17  is formed with the protrusion tube  18  connected to the gas outlet  6 . The bottom of the adsorbent case  4  is detachably fixed on to the bottom of the cabinet  2  by one or more bracket  27 , and comprises wheels  28  for easy removal. 
     In the adsorbent case  4 , one or more catalytic-adsorbent members  33  are spaced from each other in layered fashion for the purpose of adsorbing the gas generated from the induction tube  3 . And the top of the adsorbent case  4  is detachably connected to the gas outlet  6  to let the adsorbed gas out of the gas scrubber  1 . The second pressure gauge P 2  is placed in the gas outlet  6  to measure the pressure of the adsorbed gas. 
     Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, one side of the induction tube  3  and the adsorbent case  4  have the first tube joint  8  and the second tube joint  10 , respectively. The side of the first tube joint  8  and the second tube joint  10  are formed with the flange  9 ,  16 . In order to supply the gas to the catalytic-adsorbent members  33  located at or near the bottom of the adsorbent case  4 , the first tube joint  8  located in the bottom of the induction tube  3  is detachably connected to the second tube joint  10  located on the bottom of the adsorbent case  4  via the gas passage mechanism  15  (known to include gas passage tubes  7 , as well as a pressure regulation mechanism described below). The gas passage mechanism  15  is coupled to the bottom of the adsorbent case  4  by using a coupling mechanism such as a clamp. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, each of the gas passage tubes have a fixed tube element  15   a  and the flexible tube element  15   b  connected together by a flange. If the distance between the induction tube  3  and the adsorbent case  4  changes, flexibility of the flexible tube element  15   b  accommodates changes that occur in the connecting distance. 
     Referring to the drawing, a plurality of gas passage units or tubes  7  are supplied at the bottom of the induction tube and the adsorbent case  4  in order to connect the first tube joint  8  and the second tube joint  10 . A gas passage means is supplied in order to allow or block the flow of the gas from the induction tube  3  to the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located in the second or higher layer of the multi-layered, plurality of tubes  7 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the plurality of gas passage tubes  7  include a multi-layer piston material  11  fixed to the outside surface of the adsorbent case  4 . The multi-layer first tube joint is provided to the one side of the induction tube  3 , and a multi-layer passage  12  extends through the multi-layer second tube joint  10  supplied with the adsorbent case  4  in order to connect with the layered catalytic-adsorbent  33  contained within respective, layered adsorbent cases  4 . A valve material  13  is contained within each of the gas passage tubes  7 . The valve material  13  operates as a piston which responds to operation of piston material  11 . The piston material  11  operates when the difference between the induction gas pressure measured by the first pressure gauge P 1  and the outlet gas pressure measured by the second pressure gauge P 2  is greater than the threshold value. 
     The piston material  11  is connected to the passage  12  by the bracket means  14 , and detachably connects the tube joint  8  of the induction tube  3  with the other tube material  10  formed on the outer surface of the adsorbent case  4 . Since the structure of the passage  12  is same as that of the structure of the gas passage mechanism  15 , the passage material  12  provides the flexibility in connecting distance between the induction tube  3  and the adsorbent case  4 . 
     The catalytic-adsorbent member  33  comprises adsorbent particles such as carbon or Al 2 O 3 , or are particles coated with oxygen metals. Referring to FIG. 3, the catalytic-adsorbent  33  formed with the above mentioned particles is placed in the catalytic-adsorbent case  20  having a tube  19  that connects with the second tube joint  10 . The catalytic-adsorbent case  20  is covered with a perforated cap  21 . The center of cap  21  is formed with a hole  24  where a connection bolt  22  is used to secure cap  21  to case  20 . A plurality of gas passage holes  26  extend through cap material  21  to let out the gas that has been treated with the catalytic-adsorbent  33 . Also, in the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 , the hole  24 ′ in which the connection bolt  22  penetrates is formed in the bottom center of the catalytic-adsorbent case. When the catalytic-adsorbent particles  33  fill the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 , the bolt  22  is inserted back into the hole  24  formed in the cap material  21  and the hole  24 ′ of the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 . When the bolt  22  is protruded through the hole formed at the bottom of the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 , a nut  23  is threaded to fix the cap material  21  onto the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 . Hence, the catalytic-adsorbent  33  is secured within the confines of the substantially planar cover of cap material  21  and the surrounding base and walls of the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, catalytic-adsorbent case  20  contains particles of catalytic-adsorbent material, and each case  20  is fixed in spaced relation to each other near the bottom of the cabinet  2  with supporters  25 . Case  20   a  is spaced by supporter  25  from the bottom of case  4 , wherein case  20   b  is spaced above case  20   a  by similarly configured supporters  25 . Likewise, the other catalytic-adsorbent cases  20   c  and  20   d  are spaced above the catalytic-adsorbent case  20   b  by associated supporters  25 . In order to prevent a movement of the supporter  25 , on the surface of the cap  21  and the bottom surface of the catalytic-adsorbent case  20  are formed with a hole or a home in which the supporter  25  can be placed. 
     The gas intake  5  is connected with the gas outlet  6  through the connection tube  31  connected to the gas intake  5  with the connection means, such as the clamp. The connection tube  31  is connected to the gas outlet  6  with the connection means so that it could be detached when necessary. Since the first valve  29  is located in the gas intake  5  and the second valve  30  is located in the connection tube  31 , the gas taken in by the gas intake  5  can bypass to the gas outlet  6  when the catalytic-adsorbent  33  is being replaced. 
     Such bypass is possible by shutting down the first valve  29  to block the gas from flowing from the gas intake  5  to the induction tube  3 , and at the same time the second valve  30  is opened to allow the gas taken in by the gas intake  5  and bypassed to the gas outlet  6  through the connection tube  31 . As illustrated in the drawing, the connection tube  31  is made up of a flexible-type tube material similar to passages  12  and  15 , so that the connection tube  31  has flexibility to adjust to the connecting distance between the gas intake  5  and gas outlet  6 . 
     Following are detailed explanations on operation of the adsorbent gas scrubber  1  in accordance with foregoing descriptions. First, the gas that flows into the induction tube  3  from the gas intake  5  is supplied to the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located at the bottom of the adsorbent case  4  via the passage  12 . While the gas passes around and about the catalytic-adsorbent  33  particles, the harmful material contained in the gas is chemically and physically adsorbed in the catalytic-adsorbent  33  as a result of the chemical and physical reactions described above, and then the clean gas is exhausted from case  20  through the gas passage holes  26  formed in the cap  21  that covers the top of the catalytic-adsorbent case  20 . As the gas continuously passes through the catalytic-adsorbent  33  and the harmful materials contained in the gas are adsorbed, the passage space of the catalytic-adsorbent  33  becomes clogged due to the adsorption of the harmful materials. As a result, the quantity and flow rate of the harmful gas is reduced. When the passage space of the catalytic-adsorbent  33  is clogged by the adsorption of the harmful materials, the pressure of the gas exhaust through the gas outlet  6  measured by the second pressure gauge P 2  placed in the gas outlet  6  declines. 
     The pressure of the gas measured by the second pressure gauge P 2  is then compared with the pressure of the induction gas measured by the first pressure gauge P 1  located in the gas intake  5  to obtain the difference in pressure values. If the obtained value of the pressure difference is larger than a threshold pressure value, then the piston material  11  of the gas passage means  7  begins to operate. The operation of the piston material  11  is programmed in the main system of the adsorbent gas scrubber in accordance with the present invention in order to operate the gas passage means  7  located on the top of the gas passage  15 . 
     When the pressure difference between the pressure value measured by the second pressure gauge P 2  and the pressure value measured by the first pressure gauge P 1  is larger than the threshold pressure value, the corresponding valve material  13  of the gas passage units  7  moves as result of operation of the piston material to the position shown in FIG. 4 as having a series of short dashes. Then the gas is supplied to the catalytic-adsorbent  33  layered at the second from the bottom of the adsorbent case  4  and then the same operation as the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located on the bottom occurs. 
     The above mentioned operation is continuously repeated until the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located at the top of the adsorbent case  4  is fully used up and the gas flow rate continues to decline. If the adsorption efficiency of the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located in the top-most case  20   d  declines, i.e., when the pressure difference between the gas pressure measured by the second pressure gauge P 2  and the gas pressure measured by the first pressure gauge P 1  is larger than the threshold pressure value, all of the catalytic-adsorbent  33  located in the adsorbent case  4  must be replaced with new catalytic-adsorbent  33 . 
     To replace the catalytic-adsorbent  33 , all the materials, such as the gas outlet  6 , the gas passage units  7 , the gas passage mechanism  15  and the connection tube  31 , connected to the adsorbent case  4  with the connection means such as the clamp are detached from the adsorbent case  4 , and then the adsorbent case is taken out from the cabinet  2 . 
     The circular plate  17  that covers the top of the adsorbent case  4  is detached from the adsorbent case  4  by removing the bolt  32  to open the top of the adsorbent case  4 . The catalytic-adsorbent case  20  is separated from the adsorbent case  4  through the opening at the top of the adsorbent case  4  in top-to-bottom order. Thereafter, the catalytic-adsorbent case  20  filled with new or replenished catalytic-adsorbent  33  is placed back into the adsorbent case  4  in reverse order to the order in which they are removed. More specifically, the adsorbent case  4  having the catalytic-adsorbent case  20  with new catalytic-adsorbent  33  is installed back into the cabinet  2  in reverse order of the separation procedure. 
     As mentioned above, according to the present invention which relates to the adsorbent gas scrubber having a structure whereby the adsorbing case including the catalytic-adsorbent can be easily and quickly exchanged from the adsorbent case, the processing efficiency of the harmful gas generated during semiconductor manufacturing may be increased in proportion to the reduction of the idle time of the system. 
     A various modifications of the above described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.