Apparatus for producing metal- or semiconductor granulates, comprises a container for accommodating silicon melt, a cooling device with cooling zone and cooling gas device, for cooling and solidifying of a melt, and an accommodation device

Apparatus (1) for producing metal- or semiconductor granulates (2), comprises: a container (4) for accommodating silicon melt (5) arranged in a melting chamber (3); a cooling device for cooling and at least partially solidifying of individual portions of the melt, where the cooling device comprises a cooling zone, and a cooling gas device, by which a cooling gas counter-flow is generated in the cooling zone; and an accommodation device for accommodating a granular material. The cooling gas device is a part of a cooling gas circuit with a cooling gas inlet and cooling gas outlet. Apparatus (1) for producing metal- or semiconductor granulates (2), comprises: a container (4) for accommodating silicon melt (5) arranged in a melting chamber (3); a cooling device arranged subsequent to the container and is connected to the container via at least one opening, for cooling and at least partially solidifying of individual portions of the melt, where the cooling device comprises a cooling zone, and a cooling gas device, by which a cooling gas counter-flow is generated in the cooling zone; and an accommodation device for accommodating a granular material. The cooling gas device is a part of a cooling gas circuit with a cooling gas inlet and cooling gas outlet, each opening into the cooling zone. The cooling-gas counter-flow comprises at least one inert gas. Independent claims are also included for: (1) producing the metal-or semiconductor granulates, comprising providing the container with at least one opening in a bottom portion, and a cooling zone subsequent to the opening, extending in a vertical direction, providing a melt or superheated melt to the container, transferring the melt from the container to the cooling zone through the opening, by a pressure difference, preferably by gravity, where the melt is divided into separate droplets, which fall through the cooling zone in the vertical direction due to gravity, and cooling the melt droplets in the cooling zone for at least partial solidification, and the cooling takes place by generating a gas counter-flow in the cooling zone for slowing the falling speed of the melt droplets; and (2) granulates, preferably silicon granulate, prepared by the above method. Vorrichtung (1) zur Herstellung von Metall- oder Halbleiter-Granulat (2) umfassend eine Schmelzkammer (3) mit einem Behälter (4) zur Aufnahme einer Schmelze (5), eine sich an den Behälter (4) anschließende, mit diesem über eine Vereinzelung-Einrichtung (13) mi