Patent ID: 7687019

Claim:
A refining apparatus for scrap silicon using an electron beam, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a crucible disposed inside the vacuum chamber; a hearth disposed inside the vacuum chamber where it can supply a melt to the crucible; an electron gun for irradiating granular scrap silicon in the hearth with an electron beam; a raw material supply apparatus disposed inside the vacuum chamber and including a hopper for receiving granular scrap silicon; an inclined open-topped chute down which granular scrap silicon can slide between the raw material supply apparatus and the hearth, the chute having an upper end onto which the raw material supply apparatus can drop granular scrap silicon and a lower end disposed where it can drop granular scrap silicon into the hearth; and a partition disposed above the chute in a location so as to shield the raw material supply apparatus against thermal radiation from the hearth, a space between the partition and the upper end of the chute defining an opening through which granular scrap silicon can be introduced onto the chute by the raw material supply apparatus.