METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY CASTING POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for continuously casting polycrystalline silicon, in which a polycrystalline silicon ingot can be smoothly pulled down without inducing insertion of molten silicon upon initial melting of a silicon raw material.SOLUTION: Upon initial melting of the silicon raw material, a non-combustible member is charged into a gap formed between a dummy block inside a bottomless cooling crucible and a side wall of the bottomless cooling crucible. Use of quartz wool as the non-combustible member can minimize contamination of the molten silicon by the non-combustible member. The method can be readily implemented by the continuous casting apparatus for polycrystalline silicon wherein the non-combustible member is charged into the gap formed between the dummy block and the bottomless crucible.