A photovoltaic module comprising: (a) a photovoltaic laminate including: two or more electrically conducting dements extending through the photovoltaic laminate so that power is moved from one photovoltaic module towards another photovoltaic module or towards an inverter; and (b) one or more connectors connected to each of the two or more electrically conducting elements by a connection joint, each of the one or more connectors include: two or more opposing terminals that each are connected to and extend from one of the two or more electrically conducing elements; wherein a dielectric space is located between the two or more opposing terminals and the dielectric space blocks material used to form a connection joint from passing from a first terminal to a second terminal, the material from the connection joint cools before the material passes from one terminal to a second terminal, the material fails to travel from the first terminal to the second terminal, or a combination thereof.

A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) one or more catalyst compounds comprising at least one oxygen linkage, such as a phenoxide transition metal compound; 2) a support comprising an organosilica material, which may be a mesoporous organosilica material; and 3) an optional activator. Useful catalysts include biphenyl phenol catalysts (BPP). The organosilica material may be a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), where Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

Process for hydrogenation of aromatic compounds in a feedstock comprising hydrocarbons having at least five carbon atoms, comprising: a) contacting feedstock, a hydrogen gas, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 to 400° C., 0.5 to 8 MPa, and a feedstock flow rate 0.5 to 5 h.sup.−1, as to produce a partially-hydrogenated hydrocarbon feedstock and gas; and b) contacting the partially-hydrogenated feedstock, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 and 400° C., a pressure of between 0.5 and 8 MPa, with a flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 8 h.sup.−1, a ratio between the volume of hydrogen and the volume of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 3 Nm.sup.3/m.sup.3, and a ratio between the superficial mass flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock and the superficial mass flow rate of gas (Ul/Ug) at the inlet of the reactor between 50 and 500.

Process for hydrogenation of aromatic compounds in a feedstock comprising hydrocarbons having at least five carbon atoms, comprising: a) contacting feedstock, a hydrogen gas, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 to 400° C., 0.5 to 8 MPa, and a feedstock flow rate 0.5 to 5 h.sup.−1, as to produce a partially-hydrogenated hydrocarbon feedstock and gas; and b) contacting the partially-hydrogenated feedstock, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 and 400° C., a pressure of between 0.5 and 8 MPa, with a flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 8 h.sup.−1, a ratio between the volume of hydrogen and the volume of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 3 Nm.sup.3/m.sup.3, and a ratio between the superficial mass flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock and the superficial mass flow rate of gas (Ul/Ug) at the inlet of the reactor between 50 and 500.

Systems and methods are provided for hydroprocessing a petroleum fraction, such as a bottoms fraction from a fuels hydrocracking process, to generate a lubricant base oil. The aromatic content of such a petroleum fraction can be reduced using a aromatic saturation stage with multiple catalyst beds, or alternatively using a reactor (or reactors) with multiple aromatic saturation stages. The catalysts in the various beds or stages can be selected to provide different types of aromatic saturation activity. An initial bed or stage can provide activity for saturation of 1-ring aromatics in the petroleum fraction. One or more subsequent beds or stages, operating at successively lower temperature, can then be used to reduce the multiple-ring aromatic content of the petroleum fraction.

Systems and methods are provided for hydroprocessing a petroleum fraction, such as a bottoms fraction from a fuels hydrocracking process, to generate a lubricant base oil. The aromatic content of such a petroleum fraction can be reduced using a aromatic saturation stage with multiple catalyst beds, or alternatively using a reactor (or reactors) with multiple aromatic saturation stages. The catalysts in the various beds or stages can be selected to provide different types of aromatic saturation activity. An initial bed or stage can provide activity for saturation of 1-ring aromatics in the petroleum fraction. One or more subsequent beds or stages, operating at successively lower temperature, can then be used to reduce the multiple-ring aromatic content of the petroleum fraction.

Described are processes to produce base oils with one more improved properties, e.g., lower aromatics, economically and/or efficiently. In some embodiments the processes comprise a step that reduces the amount of residual refractory sulfur compounds prior to or simultaneous with a hydrofinishing step which advantageously provides base oils with lower aromatics than comparable processes.

Methods are provided for forming noble metal catalysts comprising both platinum and a second Group VIII metal, such as palladium, with improved aromatic saturation activity. Instead of impregnating a catalyst with both platinum and another Group VIII metal at the same time, a sequential impregnation can be used, with the Group VIII metal being impregnated prior to platinum. It has been discovered that by forming a Group VIII metal-impregnated catalyst first, and then impregnating with platinum, the distribution of platinum throughout the catalyst can be improved. The improved distribution of platinum can result in a catalyst with enhanced aromatic saturation activity relative to a catalyst with a similar composition formed by simultaneous impregnation.

Methods are provided for forming noble metal catalysts comprising both platinum and a second Group VIII metal, such as palladium, with improved aromatic saturation activity. Instead of impregnating a catalyst with both platinum and another Group VIII metal at the same time, a sequential impregnation can be used, with the Group VIII metal being impregnated prior to platinum. It has been discovered that by forming a Group VIII metal-impregnated catalyst first, and then impregnating with platinum, the distribution of platinum throughout the catalyst can be improved. The improved distribution of platinum can result in a catalyst with enhanced aromatic saturation activity relative to a catalyst with a similar composition formed by simultaneous impregnation.

Provided is a conversion process for an organic oil, relating to the field of biomass utilization, energy and chemical industry. The conversion process is carried out in presence of an aqueous slurry and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of an iron oxide compound, a waste agent resulting from use of an iron oxide compound as desulfurizer, and a regeneration product of the waste agent, under a controlled molar ratio of iron element to sulfur element. It is found that free radical condensation polymerization of organic oil during cracking process can be blocked effectively by using carbonylation, and hydrogenation is achieved with active hydrogen produced from the conversion of CO and water. In the conversion process, organic material, especially biomass solid, can be directly converted without dehydration, and water can be additionally added to the biomass liquid or the mineral oil.