Modular Poly Power Units round off the Siemens portfolio for silicon manufacture

The Poly Power Unit from the Siemens Industry Automation Division rounds off its portfolio for the solar industry. The company already offers solutions for the automation, sensor and analytical functions associated with the manufacture of polycrystalline silicon. The new system of modular design allows exact rating of the power supply for any Siemens CVD reactor (Chemical Vapor Deposition) depending on the number of pairs of silicon rods, as well as quick parameter assignment via the software.

The design does not require a rigid cabinet, and this reduces the amount of space required and simplifies maintenance of the components. In the solution developed by Siemens, the Poly Power Unit is also integrated in the Simatic PCS 7 control system. This allows the use of energy management functions, Advanced Process Control algorithms, and a thermostatically-controlled control loop for the energy carrier.

“The presented solution integrates the Poly Power Units into the total process control system. The current infeed in the reactor can then be exactly matched to the gas supply. The silicon manufacture is thus significantly more efficient” says Bernhard Saftig, head of the Glass and Solar business segment of the Siemens Industry Automation Division.

The Poly Power Units contain Siemens power electronics that have already been proven in the field of large drive technology and in power semiconductors. The high-quality components and the efficient design permit a particularly high voltage range.

Siemens has been an experienced supplier of automation solutions for the manufacture of polycrystalline silicon for more than 50 years, and is the only supplier to cover the complete automation spectrum for the solar sector. The portfolio ranges from power supplies and automation systems up to sensors and analytics. It includes components such as switchgear, transformers, and gas chromatographs. All products are designed according to the special requirements and matched to one another. This also applies to the newly developed Poly Power Unit PPU. Siemens' target is to make the manufacture of photovoltaic modules more cost-effective and more efficient through implementation of its solutions for the solar industry. As a leading supplier of automation technology, Siemens has gained more expertise than any other companies over very many years with its innovative solutions in numerous fields and industries.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation and building technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. In fiscal 2010, which ended on September 30, 2010, revenue from continuing operations of the Industry Sector (excluding Osram) totaled around €30.2 billion. At the end of September 2010, Siemens Industry Sector had around 164,000 employees worldwide without consideration of Osram. Further information is available on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com/industry

The Siemens Industry Automation Division (Nuremberg, Germany) is a worldwide leader in the fields of automation systems, industrial controls and industrial software. Its portfolio ranges from standard products for the manufacturing and process industries to solutions for whole industrial sectors that encompass the automation of entire automobile production facilities and chemical plants. As a leading software supplier, Industry Automation optimizes the entire value added chain of manufacturers – from product design and development to production, sales and a wide range of maintenance services. With around 33,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Automation posted sales of €6.2 billion in fiscal year 2010. http://www.siemens.com/industryautomation

Reference Number: IIA2011092633e