Patent ID: 7927571

Claim:
In a method for the batch production of high purity polycrystalline silicon, in which a U-shaped carrier body made of silicon is fastened in an open deposition reactor, the deposition reactor is hermetically sealed, the U-shaped carrier body is heated by direct flow of current, a silicon-containing reaction gas and hydrogen are introduced into the deposition reactor through one or more supply line(s) so that silicon from the reaction gas is deposited on the carrier body, the diameter of the carrier body increases to form an enlarged carrier body and a waste gas formed is removed from the deposition reactor through one or more discharge line(s), and, after a desired diameter of the enlarged carrier body is reached, the deposition is terminated, the enlarged carrier body is cooled to room temperature, the hermetic seal is broken and the deposition reactor is opened to give an open deposition reactor, the enlarged carrier body is removed from the open deposition reactor and a second U-shaped carrier body made of silicon is fastened in the open deposition reactor, the improvement comprising feeding an inert gas through the supply line(s) and the discharge line(s) into the open deposition reactor from at least the time when the deposition reactor is opened in order to extract the enlarged carrier body until at least the time when the reactor is closed in order to deposit silicon on the second U-shaped carrier body.