Abstract: A novel low-cost solar photovoltaic module using line-focus lenses and photovoltaic receivers incorporating high-performance photovoltaic cells is described. It consists of an array of linear arched Fresnel lenses with a linear photovoltaic cell receiver located along the focal line of each lens. The lens consists of a protective superstrate with molded silicone Fresnel grooves on its inner surface. The photovoltaic cell receiver consists of high efficiency cells interconnected in a string with a solid secondary optical element adhesive bonded to the cells. The entrance aperture of each secondary optical element is rectangular in shape and the optical secondaries are butted up against each other in a line to form a continuous entrance aperture along the focal line. In addition to providing more concentrated sunlight, the solid optical secondaries shield the cells against radiation damage.

Abstract: A photovoltaic receiver is disclosed where said receiver includes at last one photovoltaic cell coupled to an electrical load via the use of an electrical conductor and a bypass diode, the combination secured to a heat sink via the use of a Tefzel film incorporating a pressure sensitive adhesive on both its upper and lower surfaces, a prismatic top cover and a second Tefzel film layer secured to said first layer so as to encapsulate said photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A novel low-cost solar photovoltaic module using line-focus lenses and photovoltaic receivers incorporating high-performance tandem cell-stacks is described. It consists of an array of linear arched Fresnel lenses with a linear tandem-cell receiver located along the focal line of each lens. The lens consists of a glass protective superstrate with molded silicone Fresnel grooves on its inner surface. The tandem cell receiver consists of high efficiency cell-stacks interconnected in a string with a secondary optical element adhesive bonded to each cell-stack. The entrance aperture of each secondary optical element is rectangular in shape and the optical secondaries are butted up against each other in a line to form a continuous entrance aperture along the focal line. Each optical secondary provides for sunlight concentration in two dimensions so that its base bonded to the cell-stack is smaller in both the direction along the focal line as well as perpendicular to it.

Abstract: An improved composition for baking stones for use in commercial ovens and a method of manufacture of the improved baking stones are disclosed. The baking stone composition is asbestos-free, non-hazardous and is ideal for commercial ovens designed for baking pizza and bread. The improved composition includes portland cement, mortar or mason sand, glass fiber strands, water and a plasticizer. A novel method of manufacture is also disclosed which includes the preferred mixing speeds, mixing times, vibrating speeds, vibrating times and cure times.

Abstract: Solid residues arising from the burning of solid wastes have lead and cadmium sufficiently insolubilized to pass the EPA toxicity test only where the pH in the EPA test is between 7.5 and 12.0. Addition of water soluble phosphate, especially phosphoric acid, increases the immobilization of lead and cadmium so as to make such residues in compliance with the toxicity tests over a substantially broader pH range.

Abstract: A solar thermal energy collector includes a thermal receiver for receiving thermal energy from incident solar radiation and converting that energy, with minimum heat loss, into thermal energy transferred to and carried by a thermal fluid in a copper conductor. The copper tube is placed within a lower aluminum extrusion and may be secured thereto with a metal-filled silicone adhesive. The adhesive also acts as a heat-transfer device. The lower aluminum extrusion rests upon a foundation of isocyanurate urethane insulation which in turn rests upon the lower portion of a solar collector so that the central axis of the thermal fluid conducting tube lies along the axis of concentration of received solar energy. An upper aluminum extrusion is placed on top of the upper half of the copper tube and secured thereto with metal-filled silicone adhesive. The top surface of the upper aluminum extrusion is painted black and has a triangular-faceted surface.

Abstract: A solar energy collector including a primary optical concentrator, one or more solar cells and an improved solar cell cover design is provided. Each of the solar cells includes a flexible cell cover which significantly reduces optical losses due to gridline obscuration of active cell area and also due to reflection from the cover itself. The cover comprises an optically clear, flexible material, such as a silicone polymer, placed over the illuminated surface of each solar cell, with prisms formed on the outer surface of the cover such that incident sunlight is refracted by the prisms onto active cell area rather than partially onto non-active gridlines or conducting elements. Each of the prisms has a predetermined shape depending on the type of primary optical concentrator used in the solar energy collector.

Abstract: A solar thermal energy collector includes a thermal receiver for receiving thermal energy from incident solar radiation and converting that energy, with minimum heat loss, into thermal energy transferred to and carried by a thermal fluid in a copper conductor. The copper tube is placed within a lower aluminum extrusion and may be secured thereto with a metal-filled silicone adhesive. The adhesive also acts as a heat-transfer device. The lower aluminum extrusion rests upon a foundation of isocyanurate urethane insulation which in turn rests upon the lower portion of a solar collector so that the central axis of the thermal fluid conducting tube lies along the axis of concentration of received solar energy. An upper aluminum extrusion is placed on top of the upper half of the copper tube and secured thereto with metal-filled silicone adhesive. The top surface of the upper aluminum extrusion is painted black and has a triangular-faceted surface.

Abstract: Leaching of cadmium and lead from solid residues obtained in the incineration of refuse may be reduced to environmentally acceptable levels by the addition of calcium sulfide to such residues. A particularly convenient method involves the addition of dry lime and an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt supplying sulfide, especially an alkali metal sulfide, in equimolar quantities.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron compound in the presence of steam in a multicatalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized in preference to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons. The selective oxidation of hydrogen will improve the combustion thereof and supply the necessary heat which is required for a subsequent dehydrogenation treatment. The selective oxidation catalyst which is used will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table composited on a porous inorganic support. The inorganic support will have been calcined prior to impregnation thereof at a temperature in the range of from about 900.degree.

Abstract: A refractive optical concentrator for focussing solar energy on to small focal spots includes a linear Fresnel lens optically cross-coupled with simple cylindrical lenses. The cross-coupled lens concentrator comprises an optically clear dielectric material, such as acrylic plastic, with a plurality of linear prisms formed on its inner surface, and a plurality of perpendicularly mounted cylindrical lenses formed on its outer surface, such that the cylindrical lenses focus the sunlight toward a series of lateral axes and the prisms re-focus the sunlight along a longitudinal axis. The bi-focussed radiant energy is thereby concentrated upon a series of photovoltaic cells for transforming sunlight into electrical energy.

Abstract: A process is provided for the hydrocracking of a hydrocarbon charge stock which comprises reacting the charge stock with hydrogen at hydrocracking conversion conditions in contact with a catalytic composite comprising a combination of a Group VIB metal component, Group VIII metal component, and a fluorine component present in an amount ranging from 1 to 3 wt. %, on an elemental basis, based on the composite, with a silica-thoria carrier material wherein the carrier is cogelled silica-thoria consisting of from about 25% to about 99% by weight silica and from 1% to about 75% by weight thoria.A hydrocracking catalyst is also provided which comprises a combination of a nickel component, a tungsten component, and a fluorine component with a silica-thoria carrier material. The nickel, tungsten, and fluorine components are present in amounts sufficient to result in the composite containing, on an elemental basis, about 0.5 to about 2 wt. % of the nickel component, about 0.5 to about 14 wt.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon charge stock which comprises contacting said charge stock at hydrocarbon conversion conditions with a catalytic composite comprising a combination of a carrier material, a Group VIB metal component and Group VIII metal component wherein said Group VIB metal component and said Group VIII metal component are incorporated in said catalytic composite by means of a non-aqueous organic solution of a Group VIB metal compound and a Group VIII metal compound, wherein said non-aqueous organic solution comprises dimethylformamide, formamide, diethylformamide, ethylformamide, methylformamide, pyridine, aniline or toluene and wherein said catalytic composite is calcined in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: An oligomerization process is effected by treating olefinic hydrocarbons containing from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst comprising boron fluoride composited on an alumina support. The catalyst is treated with an additive comprising an oxygen or nitrogen-containing compound either prior to or during the process whereby the product which is obtained from the reaction will contain oligomer isomers possessing minimal branching.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon charge stock is disclosed which process comprises reacting the charge stock with hydrogen at hydrocracking conditions in contact with a catalytic composite having improved selectivity to middle distillate product during hydrocracking which comprises alumina, a crystalline aluminosilicate, a Group VIB metal component and a Group VIII metal component and which catalytic composite is prepared by the method comprising admixing the alumina and crystalline aluminosilicate with a peptizing agent and an aqueous solution of a modified linear aliphatic polyether surfactant to form a dough; extruding the dough into discrete particles; and calcining and drying the particles.

Abstract: Oligomers of olefins containing from 3 to about 6 carbon atoms such as dimers may be obtained in a more highly branched chain compound by effecting the oligomerization at temperatures in the range of from about 50.degree. to about 350.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 100 to about 2500 psig in the presence of a catalyst comprising a fluorided aluminum phosphate. The catalyst may be prepared by impregnating an aluminum phosphate with a fluorine-containing compound in an aqeous or nonaqueous medium, drying, calcining and recovering the desired catalyst.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst is disclosed which catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, a Group VIB metal component, a Group VIII metal component and a fluoride component wherein the last step in the catalyst preparation is the incorporation of the fluorine component and a subsequent calcination in contact with a flowing gas. Other embodiments of the present invention describe the use of the catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion and preferred methods of catalyst manufacture.

Abstract: A process is provided for the hydrocracking of a hydrocarbon charge stock which comprises reacting the charge stock with hydrogen at hydrocracking conversion conditions in contact with a catalytic composite comprising a combination of a Group VIB metal component, Group VIII metal component, and a fluorine component present in an amount ranging from 1 to 3 wt. %, on an elemental basis, based on the composite, with a silica-thoria carrier material wherein the carrier is cogelled silica-thoria consisting of from about 25% to about 99% by weight silica and from 1% to about 75% by weight thoria.A hydrocracking catalyst is also provided which comprises a combination of a nickel component, a tungsten component, and a fluorine component with a silica-thoria carrier material. The nickel, tungsten, and fluorine components are present in amounts sufficient to result in the composite containing, on an elemental basis, about 0.5 to about 2 wt. % of the nickel component, about 0.5 to about 14 wt.

Abstract: A cross-stick boomerang has its leading edges or trailing edges substantially aligned. The outermost portion of each blade extends farther to the rear than does the general line of the trailing edge. In one version, an inner fin is provided inwardly of the outer fin, and in another version the hub portion is enlarged to provide a generally circular shape.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst is disclosed which comprises a combination of a carrier material, a Group VIB metal component and Group VIII metal component wherein said group VIB metal component and said Group VIII metal component are incorporated in said catalytic composite by means of a non-aqueous organic solution of a Group VIB metal compound and a Group VIII metal compound, wherein said non-aqueous organic solution comprises dimethylformamide, formamide, diethylformamide, ethylformamide, methylformamide, pyridine, aniline or toluene and wherein said catalytic composite is calcined in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Other embodiments of the present invention describe the use of the catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion and preferred methods of catalyst manufacture.