Silicon production and processing employing a fluidized bed

The disclosure relates to formation of polycrystalline silicon by the fluid bed process wherein seed crystals of silicon are entered into the reactor from the bottom thereof and by means of a pressurized feed, the product being removed from the reactor through a tube entering the reactor at its bottommost portion. The removed product passes through a closed line by gravity into a closed vessel, the vessel being movable to a crystal puller apparatus without handling or exposure. The closed line is also tapped, as desired, to remove product on-line for test during operation so that the system can be immediately shut down when improper product is detected without excessive loss of pure polycrystalline silicon. The polycrystalline silicon is fed from the transfer vessel to a melt from which crystals are to be pulled via an intermediate reservoir. The silicon is transferred from the vessel to the reservoir under pressure to prevent contamination thereof.