Application of Semi-Coke in Industrial Silicon Production

As the best carbonaceous reducing agent for industrial silicon, charcoal production consumes significant forest resources. To prevent the waste of forest resources, new reducing agents for industrial silicon production should be investigated. In this study, semi-coke was used as a carbonaceous reductant for industrial silicon to improve the exergy efficiency and reduce the specific energy consumption. Based on the results, for a mixed carbon material without semi-coke, the efficiency of the silicon production process was 0.35, the efficiency of mixed carbon material with semi-coke was 0.34, and the efficiency of mixed carbon material with semi-coke without non-coking coal was 0.33. Therefore, semi-coke can be used instead of petroleum coke and coal as a carbonaceous reducing agent for industrial silicon. This can improve the energy utilization rate of silicon furnaces, reduce the cost of reducing agents, and improve environmental protection efficiency.