Ledian Tianwei Silicon starts up polysilicon production plant

LESHAN, CHINA: Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Co. Ltd. has successfully started up its polysilicon production plant in Leshan, Sichuan Province, China, and is now producing high-purity polysilicon that will be used to produce cells and modules for the solar industry and wafers for the electronic industry.

Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Company contracted with Poly Plant Project, Inc. (PPP), purchasing PPP's process technology and equipment package. This package integrated state-of-the-art Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Reactors to produce high-purity polysilicon, Thermal Converters to recycle and convert silicon-tetrachloride (STC) to trichlorosilane (TCS), pressure vessel power supply systems, ancillary equipment and operator and safety training at Ledian's polysilicon production plant.

"Poly Plant Project's 36-L Reactor is the market leader in terms of polysilicon output, production capacity and efficiency for 36 rod (18 pair) CVD Reactors," said Dr. Jesse Chen, President of PPP.

"PPP's engineers have developed our unique 36-L CVD Reactors to achieve a minimum annual production capacity of 200 Metric Tons per Year (MTY) of high-purity polysilicon. Our Model 36-L and our new, high-capacity Model 54-R 54 rod reactors are the most advanced, high-yield polysilicon deposition Reactors available. PPP's 36 and 54 rod Reactors are unparalleled in their efficient production of polysilicon consuming the least amount of electricity per kilogram of polysilicon produced."

Poly Plant Project was able to accelerate its equipment delivery, enabling the Ledian plant to be completed five months ahead of schedule. The equipment was commissioned in August 2009 and the plant started in production in September. All CVD Reactors are operating and the company is now producing high-purity solar grade and electronic grade polysilicon at a rate of 1,500 metric tons per year, which is nearly 50 percent of the plant's 3,000 MTY nameplate capacity.

Ledian Tianwei Silicon Technology Company is using PPP's state-of-the-art STC-to-TCS Thermal Converters, Converter power supplies, graphite elements, and ancillary equipment. The STC-to-TCS Thermal Converters are critical pieces of equipment that enable the plant to recycle recovered waste gases that are produced during the polysilicon deposition/production process.

The Ledian plant is operating PPP's Thermal Converters at a highly efficient rate converting more than 20 percent of the silicon-tetrachloride to trichlorosilane with each pass.

"PPP's CVD Reactors, Thermal Converters and power supplies are designed for safe and efficient operation while minimizing the consumption of electricity enabling plant owners to enjoy the lowest possible operating costs thereby reducing the cost of each kilo of poly produced," said Terry T. Kunimune, Chairman and CEO of Poly Plant Project.

"Ours is a very versatile pressure vessel design enabling it to be used as either a high-output CVD Reactor or a highly-efficient Thermal Converter. Using PPP's proprietary graphite chucks, electrodes, direct temperature control and on-site operator and safety training, enables our customers to enjoy the shortest learning curve as they go from commissioning to first production run to continuous, safe and stable operation.

"We are not surprised at how quickly the Ledian plant has gone into polysilicon production as their highly qualified, professional team was enabled by PPP's complete package of equipment, technology and training. We look forward to their continued success as they ramp up production and ultimately exceed their plant's nameplate capacity."