阅读说明：本技术 热处理装置和热处理方法 (Heat treatment apparatus and heat treatment method ) 是由 山口达也 于 2019-07-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种能够控制处理容器的长度方向上的气体供给管内的气体的温度的技术。本发明的一个方式的热处理装置包括：收纳基片的竖长的处理容器；气体供给单元,其具有沿上述处理容器的内壁面上下延伸的气体供给管；加热单元,其包括设置于上述处理容器的周围的隔热材料和沿上述隔热材料的内壁面设置的发热体；和冷却单元,其包括：形成于上述隔热材料的外侧的流体流路；以及贯通上述隔热材料的吹出孔,其一端与上述流体流路连通,另一端与上述处理容器和上述隔热材料之间的空间连通,能够向上述气体供给管吹出冷却流体,上述吹出孔沿上述气体供给管的长度方向设置有多个。(The invention provides techniques for controlling the temperature of gas in a gas supply pipe in the longitudinal direction of a processing container.A heat treatment apparatus of the invention includes a vertically long processing container for accommodating substrates, a gas supply unit having a gas supply pipe extending vertically along the inner wall surface of the processing container, a heating unit including a heat insulating material provided around the processing container and a heating element provided along the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material, and a cooling unit including a fluid flow path formed outside the heat insulating material, and a blow-out hole penetrating the heat insulating material, wherein an end of of the blow-out hole communicates with the fluid flow path, an end of of the blow-out hole communicates with a space between the processing container and the heat insulating material, and a cooling fluid can be blown out to the gas supply pipe, and a plurality of the blow-out holes are provided in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe.)

1, A heat treatment device, comprising:

a vertically long processing container for receiving a substrate;

a gas supply unit having a gas supply pipe extending vertically along an inner wall surface of the processing container;

a heating unit including a heat insulating material provided around the processing container and a heating element provided along an inner wall surface of the heat insulating material; and

a cooling unit having a fluid flow path formed outside the heat insulating material and a blowing hole penetrating the heat insulating material, the blowing hole having an end communicating with the fluid flow path and a end communicating with a space between the processing vessel and the heat insulating material and being capable of blowing a cooling fluid to the gas supply pipe,

the blowing holes are provided in plural along a longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe.

2. The thermal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of fluid flow paths are formed in the vertical direction,

the cooling unit has a flow rate adjustment unit capable of adjusting a flow rate of the cooling fluid flowing through each of the plurality of fluid flow paths.

3. The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

each of the plurality of blowout holes is inclined obliquely upward as going from the end side to the end side.

4. The thermal processing device of any of , comprising:

and a heat discharge unit that communicates with the space above the plurality of blow-out holes and is capable of discharging the cooling fluid in the space.

5. The thermal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the heat discharge unit and the plurality of blowing holes are provided at positions overlapping in a plan view.

6. The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

the cooling fluid discharged from the heat discharge unit is cooled by the heat exchanger and then supplied to the fluid flow path again.

7. The thermal processing device of any of , wherein:

includes a rotary shaft rotatably supporting a substrate holder holding a substrate in the processing container.

8. The thermal processing device of any of , comprising:

a second cooling unit including a second fluid flow path formed at a position different from the position of the fluid flow path outside the heat insulating material, and a second blowing hole penetrating the heat insulating material, an end of the second blowing hole communicating with the second fluid flow path, and an end of the second blowing hole communicating with a space between the processing vessel and the heat insulating material, and capable of blowing a cooling fluid into the processing vessel;

a fluid supply passage communicating with the fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path; and

a flow path switching unit capable of switching a connection destination of the fluid supply passage to the fluid flow path or the second fluid flow path.

9. The thermal processing device of any of , comprising:

the processing container includes: a cylindrical inner tube having a top portion and an open lower end portion; and an outer tube having a top part and having a lower end part opened and covering an outer side of the inner tube,

the inner tube has a receiving part formed by projecting part of the side wall to the outside,

the gas supply pipe is housed in the housing portion.

10, A method of heat treatment, comprising:

a step of storing the substrate in a vertically long processing container;

heating the processing container by a heat generating body provided along an inner wall surface of a heat insulating material provided around the processing container;

supplying a gas from a gas supply pipe extending vertically along an inner wall surface of the processing container; and

a step of blowing out a cooling fluid to the gas supply pipe by using a plurality of blow-out holes that penetrate the heat insulating material from a fluid flow path formed outside the heat insulating material and communicate with a space between the process container and the heat insulating material,

the step of blowing the cooling fluid out to the gas supply pipe is performed when the step of supplying the gas from the gas supply pipe is performed.

11. The heat treatment method according to claim 10, wherein:

comprising a step of blowing a cooling fluid toward the processing container by using a plurality of second blowing holes which penetrate the heat insulating material from a second fluid flow path formed outside the heat insulating material and communicate with a space between the processing container and the heat insulating material,

the step of blowing the cooling fluid into the processing container is performed when the step of supplying the gas from the gas supply pipe is performed.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heat treatment apparatus and a heat treatment method.

Background

In the vertical heat treatment apparatus, for example, a gas supply pipe is provided along the longitudinal direction of a vertically long processing container housing substrates, and gas is discharged in the horizontal direction from a plurality of gas holes formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe.

Further, there is known a vertical heat treatment apparatus including a cooling unit for blowing out a cooling fluid such as air into a space between a processing container and a heating apparatus (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2).

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

The invention provides techniques for controlling the temperature of gas in a gas supply pipe in the longitudinal direction of a processing container.

Technical solution for solving technical problem

The heat treatment apparatuses include a vertically long treatment vessel for housing substrates, a gas supply unit having a gas supply pipe extending vertically along an inner wall surface of the treatment vessel, a heating unit including a heat insulating material provided around the treatment vessel and a heating element provided along the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material, and a cooling unit including a fluid flow path formed outside the heat insulating material, and a plurality of blow-out holes provided in a longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe, the blow-out holes having ends communicating with the fluid flow path and ends communicating with a space between the treatment vessel and the heat insulating material and being capable of blowing cooling fluid into the gas supply pipe.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe in the longitudinal direction of the processing container can be controlled.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a heat treatment apparatus according to .

Fig. 2 is an explanatory view of an th cooling unit and a second cooling unit of the heat treatment apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of a heat exhausting unit of the heat treatment apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a heat treatment apparatus according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a heat treatment apparatus according to a third embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

10 treatment vessel

11 inner pipe

12 outer tube

13 storage part

24 rotating shaft

30 gas supply unit

31 gas supply pipe

32 gas holes

50 heating unit

51 Heat insulating Material

52 heating element

60 th cooling unit

61 st fluid flow path

62 blow-off hole

65 flow regulating unit

70 second cooling unit

71 second fluid flow path

72 blow-off hole

80 fluid supply passage

81 flow path switching unit

90 heat removal unit

W wafer.

Detailed Description

Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings attached hereto, the same or corresponding components or parts are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

(embodiment )

(Heat treatment apparatus)

example of the heat treatment apparatus of the th embodiment is explained, fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the heat treatment apparatus of the th embodiment, fig. 2 is an explanatory view of the th cooling unit and the second cooling unit of the heat treatment apparatus of fig. 1, and fig. 3 is an explanatory view of the heat exhaust unit of the heat treatment apparatus of fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the heat treatment apparatus includes a process container 10, a gas supply unit 30, an exhaust unit 40, a heating unit 50, an -th cooling unit 60, a second cooling unit 70, a fluid supply path 80, a heat exhaust unit 90, a control apparatus 100, and the like.

The processing container 10 accommodates semiconductor wafers (hereinafter referred to as "wafers W") as substrates. The processing container 10 includes: a cylindrical inner tube 11 having a top and an open lower end; and a cylindrical outer tube 12 having a top, a lower end portion of which is open and covers the outside of the inner tube 11. The inner tube 11 and the outer tube 12 are made of a heat-resistant material such as quartz, and are arranged coaxially to form a double tube structure.

The top portion of the inner tube 11 is formed flat, for example, and a housing 13 for housing the gas supply tube is formed on the side of the inner tube 11 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). in the embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, a portion of the side wall of the inner tube 11 is protruded outward to form a convex portion 14, and the convex portion 14 is formed as the housing 13.

A rectangular opening 15 is formed in a side wall opposite to the inner tube 11 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the inner tube 11, opposite to the housing portion 13.

The opening 15 is a gas exhaust port formed to be able to exhaust gas in the inner tube 11. The length of the opening 15 is equal to the length of the boat 16 or longer than the length of the boat 16, and extends in the vertical direction. That is, the upper end of the opening 15 extends to a height not less than a position corresponding to the upper end of the boat 16, and the lower end of the opening 15 extends to a height not more than a position corresponding to the lower end of the boat 16.

The lower end of the processing container 10 is supported by a cylindrical manifold (manifold)17 formed of, for example, stainless steel. A flange 18 is formed at the upper end of the manifold 17, and the lower end of the outer tube 12 is supported by the flange 18. The inside of the outer tube 12 is hermetically sealed by a sealing member 19 such as an O-ring interposed between the flange 18 and the lower end of the outer tube 12.

An annular support portion 20 is provided on the inner wall of the upper portion of the manifold 17, and the lower end portion of the inner tube 11 is supported by the support portion 20. A lid 21 is attached to the lower end opening of the manifold 17 in an airtight manner with a sealing member 22 such as an O-ring interposed therebetween, and the lower end opening of the processing container 10, that is, the opening of the manifold 17 is hermetically closed. The cover portion 21 is formed of, for example, stainless steel.

A rotary shaft 24 for rotatably supporting the boat 16 is provided through the center of the cover 21 via a magnetic fluid seal 23. The lower portion of the rotary shaft 24 is rotatably supported by an arm 25A of a lifting unit 25 constituted by a port lifting unit.

Since the rotary plate 26 is provided at the upper end of the rotary shaft 24 and the boat 16 for holding the wafers W is placed on the rotary plate 26 via the quartz heat-insulating table 27, the lid 21 and the boat 16 are moved up and down by moving the elevating unit 25 up and down, and the boat 16 can be inserted into and pulled out of the processing container 10, and the boat 16 can be accommodated in the processing container 10, and is a substrate holder capable of holding a plurality of wafers W at predetermined intervals.

The gas supply unit 30 is provided in the manifold 17, the gas supply unit 30 introduces a predetermined gas such as a process gas or a purge gas into the inner tube 11, the gas supply unit 30 has a gas supply pipe 31 made of quartz, the gas supply pipe 31 is provided in the inner tube 11 along the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 11, and is supported so that the root end thereof is bent in an L shape and penetrates through the manifold 17, a plurality of gas holes 32 are formed in the gas supply pipe 31 along the longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals, and gas can be discharged in the horizontal direction by the gas holes 32, the predetermined intervals are set to be the same as the intervals of the wafers W supported by the boat 16, for example, the gas holes 32 are positioned at the middle between the vertically adjacent wafers W, and gas can be supplied to the space between the wafers W, as the kind of gas, a film forming gas, an etching gas and a purge gas can be used, and can supply gas through the gas supply pipe 31 as necessary while controlling the flow rate , for example, a plurality of gas supply pipes can be provided for each kind of gas.

The exhaust unit 40 exhausts the gas discharged from the inner tube 11 through the opening 15 and discharged from the gas outlet 41 through the space S1 between the inner tube 11 and the outer tube 12. The gas outlet 41 is formed in the upper side wall of the manifold 17 above the support portion 20. The gas outlet 41 is connected to an exhaust passage 42. The exhaust passage 42 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 43 and a vacuum pump 44 in this order, and can exhaust the inside of the processing container 10.

The heating unit 50 is disposed around the processing container 10. The heating unit 50 is provided on the substrate (base plate)28, for example. The heating unit 50 heats the wafer W in the processing container 10. The heating unit 50 has, for example, a cylindrical heat insulating material 51. The heat insulating material 51 is formed of silica and alumina as main components. The heating unit 50 is not particularly limited as long as it can heat the wafers W in the processing container 10, and may be, for example, an infrared heater that radiates infrared rays to heat the processing container 10. A linear heating element 52 is provided in a spiral or serpentine shape on the inner periphery of the heat insulating material 51. The heating element 52 is configured to be capable of temperature control in a plurality of regions in the height direction of the heating unit 50. The heating element 52 is held by a holding member (not shown) on the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material 51. However, the heating element 52 may be housed in a recess formed in the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material 51.

In order to reinforce the heat insulating material 51 while maintaining the shape of the heat insulating material 51, the outer periphery of the heat insulating material 51 is covered with a metal outer skin 53 made of stainless steel or the like. In order to suppress the thermal influence on the outside of the heating unit 50, the outer periphery of the outer skin 53 is covered with a water jacket (not shown).

The th cooling unit 60 cools the gas inside the gas supply pipe 31 by supplying a cooling fluid (e.g., air) to the gas supply pipe 31 provided along the longitudinal direction of the processing container 10. the th cooling unit 60 is used, for example, when the gas is supplied from the gas supply pipe 31 to perform a heat treatment on the wafer W. the th cooling unit 60 includes a th fluid flow path 61, a plurality of blow-out holes 62, and a distribution flow path 63.

The -th fluid flow path 61 is formed in plural (for example, 5) in the height direction between the heat insulator 51 and the outer skin 53. the -th fluid flow path 61 is, for example, an arc-shaped flow path formed in an arc shape in the circumferential direction outside the heat insulator 51. the -th fluid flow path 61 is formed at a position corresponding to the position where the gas supply pipe 31 is provided in the circumferential direction of the processing vessel 10. the -th fluid flow path 61 is formed, for example, by attaching the heat insulator 64 to the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51. in the embodiment, the heat insulator 64 includes 2 heat insulators 64a arranged at intervals in the height direction on the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51 so as to connect the 2 heat insulators 64a, and plural heat insulators 64b arranged at intervals in the height direction on the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51, and the heat insulator 53 having a cylindrical shape is inserted through the heat insulators 64a and 64b in the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51, whereby plural arc-shaped -th fluid flow paths 61 are formed in the height direction.

The blow holes 62 are formed so as to penetrate the heat insulator 51 from the -th fluid flow paths 61 and blow the cooling fluid in the horizontal direction toward the gas supply pipe 31. the blow holes 62 are provided in plural numbers (for example, 2) in the height direction in the range of the -th fluid flow paths 61. however, the blow holes 62 may be provided in 1 number in the height direction in the range of the -th fluid flow paths 61. the blow holes 62 are formed by drilling the heat insulator 51 from the inside or the outside before the outer skin 53 is attached, for example, and a blow nozzle may be embedded in the heat insulator 51 as to the blow holes 62.

The distribution flow path 63 is provided outside the casing 53, and the cooling fluid is distributed and supplied to the respective -th fluid flow paths 61, a flow rate adjusting unit 65 such as a valve is provided in the distribution flow path 63, and the flow rate adjusting unit 65 is used to adjust the flow rate of the cooling fluid supplied to the respective -th fluid flow paths 61, whereby the flow rate of the cooling fluid supplied to the respective -th fluid flow paths 61 can be independently adjusted, the flow rate adjusting unit 65 can perform control based on the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 detected by, for example, a temperature sensor (not shown), whereby feedback control can be performed during the execution of the heat treatment, and therefore the flow rate adjustment of the cooling fluid can be performed based on the temperature of the gas in real time.

The second cooling unit 70 supplies a cooling fluid (e.g., air) to the process container 10 to cool the wafers W in the process container 10. The second cooling unit 70 is used, for example, when the wafer W is rapidly cooled after the heat treatment. The second cooling unit 70 includes a second fluid flow path 71, a plurality of blow-out holes 72, and a distribution flow path 73.

The second fluid flow path 71 is formed in plural (5) in the height direction between the heat insulator 51 and the outer skin 53, the second fluid flow path 71 is, for example, an arc-shaped flow path formed in an arc shape in the circumferential direction outside the heat insulator 51. the second fluid flow path 71 is formed at a position different from the -th fluid flow path 61 in the circumferential direction of the processing vessel 10. the second fluid flow path 71 is formed by, for example, attaching the heat insulator 74 to the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51. in the example of fig. 1 and 2, the heat insulator 74 has plural heat insulators 74b arranged at intervals in the height direction on the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51 so as to connect the above-mentioned 2 heat insulators 64a to the outer periphery of the heat insulator 51. the cylindrical outer skin 53 is embedded with the heat insulator 64a and the heat insulator 74b interposed therebetween outside the heat insulator 51, and thereby the plural second fluid flow paths 71 are formed in the height direction on the.

The blow-out holes 72 are formed so as to penetrate the heat insulating material 51 from the respective second fluid flow paths 71. The outlet holes 72 are provided so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ (for example, 35 °) with respect to the center direction of the heating unit 50 in a plan view, in order to form the flow of the cooling fluid that rotates in a spiral shape in the circumferential direction of the space S2. The blow-out hole 72 is formed by, for example, drilling the heat insulating material 51 with a drill from the inside or the outside before the outer skin 53 is attached. The blowing openings 72 may be formed by embedding blowing nozzles in the heat insulator 51.

The distribution channel 73 is provided outside the outer skin 53, and distributes and supplies the cooling fluid to the second fluid channels 71. The distribution flow path 73 is provided with a flow rate adjustment unit (not shown) such as a valve for adjusting the flow rate of the cooling fluid supplied to each of the second fluid flow paths 71. This allows the flow rate of the cooling fluid supplied to each of the second fluid flow paths 71 to be independently adjusted. However, the distribution flow path 73 may not be provided with the flow rate adjusting means.

The distribution flow path 63 and the distribution flow path 73 are connected to a fluid supply path 80, the fluid supply path 80 supplies the cooling fluid to the distribution flow path 63 and the distribution flow path 73, and a flow path switching means 81 such as a valve capable of switching the connection destination to the distribution flow path 63 or the distribution flow path 73 is provided in the fluid supply path 80. the flow path switching means 81 switches the connection destination of the fluid supply path 80 to the -th fluid flow path 61, for example, at the time of the heat treatment, whereby the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 can be controlled at the time of the heat treatment, and furthermore, the flow path switching means 81 switches the connection destination of the fluid supply path 80 to the second fluid flow path 71 at the time of the temperature reduction of the wafer W after the heat treatment, whereby the wafer W can be rapidly cooled after the heat treatment.

The heat exhaust unit 90 has an exhaust port 91 provided above the plurality of blowing holes 62. The cooling fluid in the space S2 is discharged to the outside of the heat treatment apparatus through the exhaust port 91. The cooling fluid discharged to the outside of the heat treatment apparatus is cooled by the heat exchanger and then supplied to the fluid supply passage 80 again. However, the cooling fluid discharged to the outside of the heat treatment apparatus may be discharged without being reused. The exhaust port 91 and the plurality of blowing holes 62 are preferably provided at positions overlapping in a plan view. Thus, the flow of the cooling fluid blown out from the plurality of blowing holes 62 into the space S2 is likely to become a flow that rises in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31. Therefore, the region where the gas supply pipe 31 is provided can be cooled intensively.

The control device 100 controls the operation of the heat treatment device. The control device 100 may be a computer, for example. A program of a computer that performs all operations of the heat treatment apparatus is stored in the storage medium 101. The storage medium 101 may be, for example, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a hard disk, a flash memory, a DVD, or the like.

(operation of Heat treatment apparatus)

example of the operation (heat treatment method) of the heat treatment apparatus according to is explained, and the heat treatment method is executed by the control device 100 controlling the operation of each part of the heat treatment apparatus.

First, the boat 16 holding a plurality of wafers W is carried into (loaded into) the processing container 10 by the elevating unit 25, and the opening at the lower end of the processing container 10 is hermetically closed by the lid 21.

Next, the process container 10 is evacuated by the evacuation unit 40 so that the pressure therein becomes a predetermined vacuum degree. Next, the film forming gas is supplied into the processing container 10 by the gas supply unit 30, and the wafer W in the processing container 10 is heated by the heating unit 50. Further, the cooling fluid is supplied from the plurality of blow-off holes 62 to the gas supply pipe 31, and the boat 16 is rotated. Thereby, a film is formed on the wafer W.

Subsequently, the supply of the film forming gas from the gas supply unit 30 is stopped. Further, the heating of the wafers W by the heating unit 50 is stopped, the supply of the cooling fluid from the plurality of blow holes 62 is stopped, and the rotation of the boat 16 is stopped.

Subsequently, the cooling fluid is blown out from the blow-out holes 72 toward the processing container 10, thereby rapidly cooling the wafers W in the processing container 10. After the wafers W in the processing container 10 become equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the boat 16 is carried out (unloaded) from the processing container 10 by the elevating unit 25.

As described above, in the embodiment, the plurality of blow holes 62 for blowing the cooling fluid toward the gas supply pipe 31 extending vertically along the inner wall surface of the processing container 10 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31, and thus the flow rate of the cooling fluid blown out from the blow holes 62 in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31 can be adjusted, and therefore the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction of the processing container 10 can be controlled, and as a result, the in-plane distribution of the film formed on the wafer W can be adjusted.

In the -th embodiment, the -th fluid flow path 61 includes a plurality of arcuate flow paths formed in the vertical direction, and a flow rate adjusting means 65 for adjusting the flow rate of the cooling fluid flowing through each of the plurality of arcuate flow paths, whereby the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction in the process container 10 can be controlled in accordance with the conditions of the heat treatment.

In the -th embodiment, the heat discharging unit 90 that communicates with the space S2 above the plurality of blowing holes 62 and discharges the cooling fluid in the space S2 is provided at a position overlapping the plurality of blowing holes 62 in a plan view, whereby the flow of the cooling fluid blown out from the plurality of blowing holes 62 into the space S2 is likely to become a flow that rises in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31, and therefore, the region where the gas supply pipe 31 is provided can be cooled intensively.

In the -th embodiment, the cooling fluid recovered by the heat rejection unit 90 is cooled by the heat exchanger and then introduced into the fluid supply passage 80 again, whereby the amount of the cooling fluid used can be controlled.

In addition, in embodiment , the second cooling unit 70 having the blowing holes 72 for blowing the cooling fluid to the entire outer circumference of the processing container 10 is provided, so that the cooling fluid can be introduced into the space S2 by the second cooling unit 70 and forcibly cooled after the heat treatment, and thus the temperature of the wafers W can be rapidly lowered after the heat treatment, and therefore, after the heat treatment of lots of wafers W is completed, the processing container 10 can be rapidly cooled by supplying the cooling fluid to the space S2, and the heat treatment can be performed to the next lots, thereby improving productivity.

In addition, in the -th embodiment, the flow path switching means 81 is provided which can switch the connection destination of the fluid supply path 80 communicating with the -th fluid flow path 61 and the second fluid flow path 71 to the -th fluid flow path 61 or the second fluid flow path 71, whereby the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 can be controlled during the heat treatment and the wafer W can be rapidly cooled after the heat treatment.

In the embodiment, the gas supply pipe 31 is housed in the housing portion 13 formed by projecting the portion of the side wall of the inner pipe 11 outward, whereby the cooling of the wafers W in the processing container 10 by the cooling fluid blown out from the blow-out holes 62 can be suppressed, and the gas supply pipe 31 can be cooled efficiently.

(second embodiment)

examples of the heat treatment apparatus of the second embodiment will be explained, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the heat treatment apparatus of the second embodiment.

As shown in fig. 4, the heat treatment apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a plurality of blowing holes 62a inclined obliquely upward from the -th fluid flow path 61 side ( end side) toward the space S2 side (the other end side).

As described above, in the second embodiment, the plurality of blowing holes 62A for blowing the cooling fluid to the gas supply pipe 31 extending vertically along the inner wall surface of the processing container 10 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31. This makes it possible to adjust the flow rate of the cooling fluid blown out from the blow-out holes 62A in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31, and thus to control the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction of the processing chamber 10.

In particular, in the second embodiment, since the plurality of blow-off holes 62A are provided so as to be inclined obliquely upward from the -th fluid flow path 61 side ( end side) toward the space S2 side (the other end side), the cooling region formed by the cooling fluid blown off from each blow-off hole 62A colliding with the outer tube 12 is formed in an elliptical shape that is vertically long, and therefore, the region where the gas supply tube 31 is provided can be cooled intensively.

(third embodiment)

examples of the heat treatment apparatus of the third embodiment will be explained, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the heat treatment apparatus of the third embodiment.

As shown in fig. 5, the heat treatment apparatus of the third embodiment is further provided with fluid supply passages for supplying cooling fluid to the th fluid flow path 61 and the second fluid flow path 71, that is, the heat treatment apparatus of the third embodiment includes the th fluid supply passage 80a for supplying cooling fluid to the th fluid flow path 61, and the second fluid supply passage 80b for supplying cooling fluid to the second fluid flow path 71.

The th fluid supply passage 80a supplies the th fluid flow path 61 with the cooling fluid via the distribution flow path 63, the th fluid supply passage 80a is provided with a flow rate controller 82, and supplies the dry air at a flow rate controlled by the flow rate controller 82.

The second fluid supply passage 80b supplies the cooling fluid to the second fluid flow path 71 via the distribution flow path 73. The second fluid supply passage 80b is supplied with air by, for example, a blower 83.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the plurality of blowing holes 62 for blowing the cooling fluid to the gas supply pipe 31 extending vertically along the inner wall surface of the process container 10 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31. This makes it possible to adjust the flow rate of the cooling fluid blown out from the blow-out holes 62 in the longitudinal direction of the gas supply pipe 31, and thus to control the temperature of the gas in the gas supply pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction of the processing chamber 10.

In particular, the third embodiment includes the fluid supply passage 80a for supplying the cooling fluid to the -th fluid flow path 61 and the second fluid supply passage 80b for supplying the cooling fluid to the second fluid flow path 71, whereby the type and flow rate of the cooling fluid to be supplied to the -th fluid flow path 61 and the type and flow rate of the cooling fluid to be supplied to the second fluid flow path 71 can be individually set.

The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The above-described embodiments may be omitted, replaced, or modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the processing container 10 has a double pipe structure including the inner pipe 11 and the outer pipe 12 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the processing container 10 may have a single pipe structure, for example.