Paul Scherrer Institute

About: Paul Scherrer Institute is a facility organization based out in Villigen, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Neutron & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 9248 authors who have published 23984 publications receiving 890129 citations. The organization is also known as: PSI.

The determination of the activities of different iron species in Fe-ZSM-5 for SCR of NO by NH3

Abstract: The activities of different iron species in Fe-ZSM-5 for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH3 were determined in terms of their turnover frequencies (TOF values). The relative concentrations of different species were correlated with their measured NOx reduction efficiencies and NH3 oxidation activities. Our results suggest that the SCR of NO by NH3 is catalyzed by different active sites with different activation energies. At temperatures below 300 °C, the SCR activity was observed to be primarily caused by monomeric iron sites; however, at T > 300 °C, T ≥ 400 °C and T ≥ 500 °C, the contribution of dimeric iron species, oligomeric species (e.g., trimeric and tetrameric iron species) and partially uncoordinated iron sites in the outmost layer of iron oxide particles, respectively, become important. The activation energies for monomeric and dimeric sites were evaluated to be about 36 kJ/mol and 77 kJ/mol, respectively. Due to their high activation energies, dimeric sites contributed more to the overall SCR activity at higher temperatures than did monomeric sites. The clustered sites not only contributed to the SCR activity but also caused nonselective oxidation of NH3 at T ≥ 350 °C, whereas the dimeric species governed the NH3 oxidation activity up to T = 500 °C. The TOF values for dimeric species were estimated to be 70 ± 13 s−1 at 500 °C. Monomeric sites were found to be completely inactive for NH3 oxidation up to 500 °C.

Proton radiography as a tool for quality control in proton therapy

Abstract: Proton radiography is investigated for its use as a quality control tool in proton therapy. Images were produced both with range and range uncertainty information of protons passing through phantoms (Alderson phantom and a sheep's head). With the range images the correct positioning of the patient with respect to the beam could be verified. The range uncertainty images were used to quantitatively detect range variations of protons passing through inhomogeneities in the patient. These measurements can be used to indicate critical situations during proton therapy or to determine the safety margin around the tumor volume. With the range information the precision of different calibrations of computer tomography Hounsfield values to relative proton stopping power, used for proton treatment planning, was determined. It is found that the precision in range can be improved by a detailed analysis of the calibration data obtained from tissue-substitute measurements, by a factor of 2.5. The resulting range errors are in the order of the positioning precision (approximately 1 mm).

Physics Beyond Colliders at CERN: Beyond the Standard Model Working Group Report

Abstract: The Physics Beyond Colliders initiative is an exploratory study aimed at exploiting the full scientific potential of the CERN's accelerator complex and scientific infrastructures through projects complementary to the LHC and other possible future colliders. These projects will target fundamental physics questions in modern particle physics. This document presents the status of the proposals presented in the framework of the Beyond the Standard Model physics working group, and explore their physics reach and the impact that CERN could have in the next 10-20 years on the international landscape.

Solar-driven gasification of carbonaceous feedstock-a review

Abstract: Given the future importance of solid carbonaceous feedstocks such as coal, coke, biomass, bitumen, and carbon-containing wastes for the power and chemical industries, gasification technologies for their thermochemical conversion into fluid fuels are developing rapidly. Solar-driven gasification, in which concentrated solar radiation is supplied as the energy source of high-temperature process heat to the endothermic reactions, offers an attractive alternative to conventional autothermal processes. It has the potential to produce high-quality synthesis gas with higher output per unit of feedstock and lower specific CO2 emissions, as the calorific value of the feedstock is upgraded through the solar energy input by an amount equal to the enthalpy change of the reaction. The elimination of an air separation unit further facilitates economic competitiveness. Ultimately, solar-driven gasification is an efficient means of storing intermittent solar energy in a transportable and dispatchable chemical form. This review article develops some of the underlying science, examines the thermodynamics and kinetics of the pertinent reactions, and describes the latest advances in solar thermochemical reactor technology.