Songci Mechatronics, a unit of China-based PV equipment manufacturer Wuxi Autowell, has unveiled a low-oxygen furnace solution for the production of n-type monocrystalline wafers.
The new solution is designed to address the higher quality requirements of n-type cells based on tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology, which demands a high-temperature process, lower resistivity, and lower oxygen content.
“Songci's SC-1600-LO₂ low-oxygen monocrystalline furnace is designed to remove oxygen impurities by matching the opening position of the furnace pipeline and the direction of the fluid pipeline through the thermal field process simulation,” the manufacturer said in a statement. “The software control algorithm includes an oxygen control function module that turns on the oxygen removal function without affecting the crystal pulling.”
Songci Mechatronics claims that the new furnace can reduce the typical issue of concentric circles in n-type wafers by 50% and achieve an oxygen content reduction of more than 24% compared to mainstream wafers, which would, in turn, result in a 0.1% increase in cell efficiency.
In 2021, Songci Mechatronics received orders from JA Solar and Yuze Semiconductor as a new supplier of monocrystalline furnaces. In 2022, the company signed CNY 1.29 billion ($185.4 million) in new orders, up 667% year on year. The company says it expects new orders to reach CNY2 billion in 2023.
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