A crystal support for a crystal pulling system includes two catches that have a respective retaining jaw that is placeable against a thickened neck portion of a crystal. The two catches are moveable into a bearing position in which the two catches bear on the thickened neck portion and into a releasing position in which the two catches are away from the thickened neck portion. In the bearing position, respective contact points of each retaining jaw at which the retaining jaws bear on the thickened neck portion are located on respective sides of a parting plane. The parting plane extends at an angle to at least one of the pivot axes of the catches and, in the bearing position, the respective contact points of each retaining jaw are located on both sides of a crystal plane that extends through an axis of the crystal and parallel to the pivot axes.

A crystal support for a crystal pulling system includes two catches that have a respective retaining jaw that is placeable against a thickened neck portion of a crystal. The two catches are moveable into a bearing position in which the two catches bear on the thickened neck portion and into a releasing position in which the two catches are away from the thickened neck portion. In the bearing position, respective contact points of each retaining jaw at which the retaining jaws bear on the thickened neck portion are located on respective sides of a parting plane. The parting plane extends at an angle to at least one of the pivot axes of the catches and, in the bearing position, the respective contact points of each retaining jaw are located on both sides of a crystal plane that extends through an axis of the crystal and parallel to the pivot axes.

A system includes a container and a seed crystal holder. The container is configured to hold melted component powders. The seed crystal holder is configured to hold a seed crystal. The seed crystal holder is configured to put the seed crystal in contact with the melted component powders. The seed crystal holder moves the seed crystal to grow a crystal from the melted component powders.

A system includes a container and a seed crystal holder. The container is configured to hold melted component powders. The seed crystal holder is configured to hold a seed crystal. The seed crystal holder is configured to put the seed crystal in contact with the melted component powders. The seed crystal holder moves the seed crystal to grow a crystal from the melted component powders.

The presently disclosed technology teaches a thermal chimney, comprising: an insulation providing a space for crystal growth; an enclosure housing the insulation; wherein the insulation further includes: a bottom level lined with tungsten plates, hanging from a first bar; a second level lined with graphite plates, hanging from a second bar; a third level lined with soft graphite felt; a seed shaft and a seed holder housed in the insulation; two layers of lids placed at the top of the insulation and the enclosure; two layers of seals respectively placed in a middle of the two layers of lids, secured to the seed shaft.

The presently disclosed technology teaches a thermal chimney, comprising: an insulation providing a space for crystal growth; an enclosure housing the insulation; wherein the insulation further includes: a bottom level lined with tungsten plates, hanging from a first bar; a second level lined with graphite plates, hanging from a second bar; a third level lined with soft graphite felt; a seed shaft and a seed holder housed in the insulation; two layers of lids placed at the top of the insulation and the enclosure; two layers of seals respectively placed in a middle of the two layers of lids, secured to the seed shaft.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a seed crystal holder and a crystal growth method. The seed crystal holder includes a seed crystal holder body and a connecting rod. The seed crystal holder body is fixed to one end of the connecting rod, and a seed crystal is provided on one side of the seed crystal holder body away from the connecting rod.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a seed crystal holder and a crystal growth method. The seed crystal holder includes a seed crystal holder body and a connecting rod. The seed crystal holder body is fixed to one end of the connecting rod, and a seed crystal is provided on one side of the seed crystal holder body away from the connecting rod.

Provided is a cylindrical ingot manufacturing method including: an operation of supplying a silicon raw material to an inside of a crucible and heating the crucible to melt the silicon raw material; an operation of supplying a seed crystal having one end fastened to a seed shaft to the inside of the crucible; and an operation of moving the seed crystal from a lower portion of the crucible to an upper portion thereof by the crucible rotating in one direction relative to the seed shaft and the seed shaft rotating in the other direction and moving upward. According to the present disclosure, since a ring-shaped seed crystal is grown, a cylindrical silicon ingot can be manufactured, and since a cylindrical silicon ingot having an inner diameter is formed, a wafer retaining ring can be manufactured from the ingot without a coring task.

An ingot puller apparatus includes a crucible assembly for holding a silicon melt, a crystal puller housing that defines a growth chamber, the crucible assembly being disposed within the growth chamber, a pulling mechanism including a seed cable, and a cleaning tool for cleaning the seed cable. The cleaning tool includes a main body defining a slot that extends through the main body for receiving the seed cable, a nozzle connected to the main body for directing a pressurized fluid at the seed cable, and a discharge conduit connected to the main body for evacuating fluid discharged from the nozzle. The main body is attached to the crystal puller housing.