Pall Corporation recently made it known that they will be applying eight new technologies to their operations in solar energy and semiconductors. Pall leads the world in filtration, separation and purification and these innovations are expect to increase efficiency of processes and reduce environmental impact. The company will display the new technologies in San Francisco at SEMICON West between July 15 and 17.

The first new technology to be used by Pall Corporation is the resource recovery system, which will help solar silicon (which is vital for the production of photovoltaic panels) manufacturers in two significant ways. The resource recovery system separates the spin-off silicon particles produced during the manufacture of silicon wafers, which are cut from silicon logs formed by de-ionized (DI), extra-pure water. This separated silicon is reused, thus saving resources. The other way this technology will help is by recovering up to 95% DI water, which is quite expensive. De-ionized water is an important part of the manufacture of semiconductors and solar cells, and its conservation cuts costs and also reduces effluents. Thus this resource recovery system recovers both raw material and water used in the process of solar silicon production.

Dr. Vivien Krygier feels that this will be very beneficial on two fronts, saying, “The solar energy industry is constrained by a shortage of silicon feedstock and by the radical price increases for raw material. Pall recognizes that the continued expansion of photovoltaics as a new source of energy will rely on greater process efficiencies that maximize output and produce cost benefits. Pall‘s silicon processing water filtration system answers that need on both resource recovery and cost benefit platforms”.

The second technology to be unveiled by Pall at SEMICON West is the tough PV Blowback Filtration system. This system has been designed to make vacuum pumps (which are essential for the production of silicon wafers in semiconductors as well as solar energy) last longer and protect them from damage. The PV Blowback Filtration system prevents abrasive silicon dust from interfering with the production process, damaging components, and endangering the health of system operators. Downtime, a common problem with the traditional filtration systems, is also lessened considerably.

A new filter assembly has been developed for gas filtration and purification for the production of solar cells. Pall will show their Gaskleen Light Series filter assemblies at SEMICON. These are the only filter assemblies available in the market that are meant especially for solar cell manufacture. The Gaskleen purifier assemblies, which will also be exhibited here, will enhance silicon film production quality and increase yield by contaminant removal ““ the gases used in the photovoltaic manufacturing process often contain impurities and these are effectively removed by the Gaskleen purifier assemblies.

Pall will also showcase the new FlexBowl filter vessel system. This modular filtration solution for wet chemical processing is flexible, economical and a boon to the manufacturers of semiconductors. Advantages of the FlexBowl system include flow rate and filtration cartridge optimization, simpler operations, minimal work area, spill prevention and lower costs as processes are adapted to the new technology. Process engineers are going to be bowled over by this new system for flexible filtration in wet chemical processing for semiconductors.

According to the Senior Vice President of Pall Microelectronics Joseph Bica, “Pall continually advances the state of the art through new filtration, separation and purification technologies that improve process efficiencies for our customers. The full suite of products Pall Microelectronics will showcase at SEMICON West is representative of Pall‘s mission to recognize, understand and respond to our customers‘ complex challenges with sophisticated solutions that apply science in new ways to enhance their profitability”.