초록 ▼

Embodiments of a probe assembly for a fluid bed reactor are disclosed. The probe assembly includes a fluid bed reactor (FBR) member, and a pressure tap comprising a wall defining a passageway within which the FBR member is located. Exemplary FBR members include, but are not limited to, a thermocoupl

Embodiments of a probe assembly for a fluid bed reactor are disclosed. The probe assembly includes a fluid bed reactor (FBR) member, and a pressure tap comprising a wall defining a passageway within which the FBR member is located. Exemplary FBR members include, but are not limited to, a thermocouple, a seed pipe, a particle sampling line, a gas sampling line, a gas feed line, a heater, a second pressure tap, or a combination thereof. Disclosed embodiments of the probe assembly reduce or eliminate the need for support rods and rings within the fluid bed reactor, reduce component fouling within the reactor, and/or reduce product contamination.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A top head assembly for a fluid bed reactor, comprising: a top head comprising at least one aperture therethrough, wherein the top head is configured to extend across a top of a reaction chamber of a fluid bed reactor; anda probe assembly positioned such that it extends downwardly through the ape

1. A top head assembly for a fluid bed reactor, comprising: a top head comprising at least one aperture therethrough, wherein the top head is configured to extend across a top of a reaction chamber of a fluid bed reactor; anda probe assembly positioned such that it extends downwardly through the aperture into the reaction chamber when the top head assembly is installed in the fluid bed reactor, the probe assembly comprising a fluid bed reactor (FBR) member having an outer surface, a maximum transverse outer dimension D1, a distal end, and a length L1, anda pressure tap that has a wall defining a passageway, a maximum transverse outer dimension D2 where D2>D1, a distal end, and a length L2, wherein the FBR member is located within the passageway of the pressure tap, and the pressure tap wall is spaced apart from the outer surface of the FBR member to define a space between the FBR member and the pressure tap wall. 2. The top head assembly of claim 1 wherein the FBR member is a thermocouple, a seed pipe, a particle sampling line, a gas sampling line, a gas feed line, a heater, a second pressure tap, or a combination thereof. 3. The top head assembly of claim 1 wherein L1>L2 such that the distal end of the FBR member is located below the distal end of the pressure tap wall when the top head assembly is installed in the fluid bed reactor. 4. The top head assembly of claim 3 wherein the FBR member is a seed pipe, a thermocouple, a particle sampling line, a gas sampling line, a gas feed line, a heater, a second pressure tap, or a combination thereof. 5. The top head assembly of claim 1 wherein L1≦L2 such that the distal end of the FBR member is located at or above the distal end of the pressure tap wall when the top head assembly is installed in the fluid bed reactor. 6. The top head assembly of claim 5 wherein the FBR member is a seed pipe, a gas feed line, a heater, or a combination thereof. 7. The top head assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support proximate a distal end of the pressure tap wall, the support comprising: an outer member having a maximum transverse outer dimension D3, wherein D3≦D2; anda plurality of spacer rods extending inwardly from the outer member. 8. The top head assembly of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly or a portion thereof comprises high-temperature stainless steel, a nickel-iron-chromium alloy, an iron-chromium-nickel-molybdenum alloy, or a cobalt-based superalloy. 9. The top head assembly of claim 1 wherein exposed outer surfaces of the probe assembly comprise a coating comprising a cobalt-chromium alloy, tungsten carbide/cobalt, tungsten carbide/nickel boron, silicon carbide, or silicon nitride. 10. A fluid bed reactor, comprising: a vessel that defines a reaction chamber;a plurality of particles within the reaction chamber;a gas source in communication with the reaction chamber;one or more fluidization nozzles; anda top head assembly according to claim 1 positioned atop the reaction chamber. 11. The fluid bed reactor of claim 10 wherein the gas source is a source of a silicon-bearing gas and the reactor is configured to produce silicon-coated particles by pyrolytic decomposition of the silicon-bearing gas and deposition of silicon onto the particles. 12. The fluid bed reactor of claim 10 wherein the particles are silicon particles and the reactor is configured to produce polysilicon. 13. A fluid bed reactor configured to produce silicon-coated particles by pyrolytic decomposition of a silicon-bearing gas and deposition of silicon onto the particles, the fluid bed reactor comprising: a vessel that defines a reaction chamber;a plurality of particles within the reaction chamber;a source of a silicon-bearing gas in communication with the reaction chamber;one or more fluidization nozzles;a top head comprising at least one aperture therethrough, the top head located atop the reaction chamber; anda probe assembly positioned such that it extends downwardly through the aperture into the reaction chamber, the probe assembly comprising a fluid bed reactor (FBR) member having an outer surface, a maximum transverse outer dimension D1, a distal end, and a length L1, anda pressure tap that has a wall defining a passageway, a maximum transverse outer dimension D2 where D2>D1, a distal end, and a length L2, wherein the FBR member is located within the passageway of the pressure tap, and the pressure tap wall is spaced apart from the outer surface of the FBR member to define a space between the FBR member and the pressure tap wall. 14. The fluid bed reactor of claim 13 wherein the pressure tap wall has a sufficient length L2 that, when the fluid bed reactor is in operation such that fluidized particles are present in a fluidized portion of a fluid bed in the reaction chamber, the distal end of the pressure tap wall extends into the fluidized portion. 15. The fluid bed reactor of claim 10 wherein the FBR member is a thermocouple and L1>L2. 16. The top head assembly of claim 1, wherein the top head further comprises a second aperture extending therethrough, the top head assembly further comprising: a second FBR member positioned such that it extends downwardly through the second aperture into the reaction chamber. 17. The top head of assembly of claim 16 wherein the FBR member of the probe assembly is a thermocouple. 18. The top head assembly of claim 17 wherein the second FBR member is a seed nozzle.