Patent ID: 8242420

Claim:
A controlled environment electric induction silicon melter and directional solidification apparatus comprising: a controlled environment chamber; an upper susceptor heating system comprising at least one upper induction coil and an upper susceptor heating element, the at least one upper induction coil arranged to inductively heat the upper susceptor heating element when a first alternating current flows through the at least one upper induction coil, the upper susceptor heating element arranged to heat by radiation an upper surface volume of impure silicon placed in a susceptor vessel in the controlled environment chamber, the susceptor vessel having at least a wall formed from a susceptor material; a susceptor vessel heating system comprising at least one vessel induction coil arranged to surround the exterior of the wall of the susceptor vessel and inductively heat the wall of the susceptor vessel when a second alternating current flows through the at least one vessel induction coil; a lower susceptor heating system comprising at least one lower induction coil and a lower susceptor heating element, the at least one lower induction coil arranged to inductively heat the lower susceptor heating element when a third alternating current flows through the at least one lower induction coil, the lower susceptor heating element arranged to heat by radiation at least the bottom of the susceptor vessel; at least one alternating current power source for supply of the first, second and third alternating currents; a plurality of switching elements for controlling supply of the first, second and third alternating currents to the at least one upper induction coil, the at least one vessel induction coil, and the at least one lower induction coil; a chamber open and close apparatus for entry and removal of the susceptor vessel from the controlled environment chamber; and a chamber translation system for moving at least the susceptor vessel and at least one of the: upper susceptor heating system; the lower susceptor heating system; or the susceptor vessel heating system to position the susceptor vessel within the susceptor vessel heating system and between the upper and lower susceptor heating systems.