SEMICON West 2008, EAST HILLS, USA: Pall Corp., the global leader in filtration, separation and purification, has announced the introduction of eight new technologies that will advance the state-of-the-art in the solar energy and semiconductor industries.

The new Pall technologies, which are designed to improve process efficiencies as well as the environmental footprint of customer systems, are being showcased at SEMICON West in San Francisco from July 15-17.

Water and raw material recapture for solar silicon manufacturing
The lead innovation in Pall’s line up for SEMICON will be its new resource recovery system engineered to address two key challenges facing manufacturers of solar silicon, an essential element in the production of photovoltaic panels. First, the system separates silicon particles produced as a by-product of the manufacturing process from the ultra-pure (deionized, or DI) water used in shaping the silicon logs from which silicon wafers are cut.

Once separated, the recovered silicon can be re-used or sold as a commodity. Second, the system allows for up to 95 percent recovery of the deionized water, the most commonly used fluid in semiconductor and solar cell manufacturing processes. The recapture and reuse of high-cost DI water conserves a valuable resource while minimizing manufacturing outputs into municipal sewer systems.

“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,” said Dr. Vivien Krygier, PhD, Senior Vice President Marketing, Pall Microelectronics.

Photovoltaic (PV) blowback filtration
Also at SEMICON, Pall will debut its robust new PV Blowback Filtration system, which is engineered to protect and extend the life of mission-critical vacuum pumps for silicon wafer manufacturers in both the semiconductor and solar energy industries. The system retains abrasive silicon dust which can interrupt the manufacturing process and affect the functioning of key system components. It also reduces manufacturing downtime associated with older filtration systems, and protects system operators from potentially hazardous airborne particles.

Gas filtration and purification for solar cell manufacturing
Additionally, Pall will showcase its Gaskleen Light Series filter assemblies, the first commercially available filter assemblies developed specifically for use in the manufacture of solar cells. Pall will also be exhibiting its Gaskleen purifier assemblies, which are designed to improve the quality of silicon film production and maximize manufacturing yields by removing contaminants from the process gases required in the production of photovoltaic cells.

Flexible filtration for wet chemical processing in semiconductor industry
Another major focus at SEMICON will be Pall’s new FlexBowl filter vessel system, a modular filtration solution for wet chemical processing. FlexBowl is the most versatile, cost-effective filter system available to the semiconductor industry, enabling process engineers to optimize flow rate, filter cartridge selection and costs to match their changing process requirements, as needed. The highly-flexible system occupies significantly less work space, eliminates spills and offers significantly easier handling than legacy systems, reducing downtime and improving safety.

“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,” said Joseph Bica, Senior Vice President, Pall Microelectronics.