Method and device for producing polycrystalline silicon blocks

The invention relates to a device and method for producing a polycrystalline silicon block in a melting crucible which is disposed in a process chamber and filled with silicon material. The silicon material is melted in the melting crucible in order to form a silicon melt and is then cooled to below the solidification temperature of the silicon. During a section of the process, a plate element which is located in the process chamber and has a through-opening can be disposed above the silicon melt and cooled in the melting crucible to below the solidification temperature of the silicon melt; and a gas flow can be directed at least partially via the at least one through-opening in the plate element onto the surface the silicon melt. Alternatively, a method and a melting crucible arrangement consisting of a melting crucible and a retaining ring are described. The retaining ring can be placed on or above a melting crucible filled with silicon material, such that additional silicon material can be received in the