Patent ID: 8562325

Claim:
A system for producing an ingot of a solidified multi-crystalline material, the system comprising: an open bottom induction cold crucible furnace; a feedstock supply apparatus for delivering a feedstock to a melt in the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace; at least one induction coil surrounding the exterior height of the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace to inductively heat the melt in the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace by magnetic coupling of the feedstock and melt combination with a flux field established by an alternating current flow in the at least one induction coil; a cut-off saw for severing a hot solidified mass of a purified multi-crystalline material exiting from the open bottom of the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace to form a severed hot solidified mass of the purified multi-crystalline material; a removable mold for a deposit of the severed hot solidified mass of the purified multi-crystalline material from the open bottom of the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace, the removable mold having a wall and a bottom; wherein the bottom of the removable mold further comprises a moveable inner bottom connected to a powered driver for controlling the rate of insertion of the severed hot solidified mass of the purified multi-crystalline material in the removable mold; and a conveyance apparatus for transporting the severed hot solidified mass of the purified multi-crystalline material to a location remote from the open bottom of the open bottom induction cold crucible furnace for a passive directional solidification of the severed hot solidified mass of the purified multi-crystalline material.