Inherent Filtration of X-ray Equipment

ndtfolks — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:43:36 +0000

Inherent filtration is the filtration or reduction in radiation energy due to absorption by the material necessary to provide the vacuum, the electrical insulation, and mechanical rigidity of the X-ray tube. In construction of some glass X-ray tubes, the port is reduced in thickness to provide less inherent filtration. In some other tubes the port is made of beryllium which is a light metal of low atomic number and low X-ray absorption. Because of tremendous pressures exerted by the atmosphere on large evacuated containers, X-ray ports must be designed with sufficient thickness to withstand these pressures without implosion. In center-grounded X-ray equipment, it is also necessary to provide gas (e.g., sulfur hexafluoride, SF6) and solid insulation for electrical isolation of the X-ray tube. Excessive inherent filtration reduces the X-ray output as well as the radiographic contrast on equipment of a given rating. In normal practice it is acceptable to tolerate inherent filtration equivalent to 1 mm of aluminum up to 100 kVp (kilovolts peak); 3 mm of aluminum up to 175 kVp; 5 mm of aluminum equivalent up to 250 kVp; and higher filtration in 1,000 to 2,000 kVp units. Inherent filtration above these tolerances reduces contrast, and hence, sensitivity of radiographic inspection, and as a result, limits the sensitivity of inspection, especially on thin sections and light alloys. For this reason, during radiographic inspections using kilovoltage of 150 or less, the tubehead shall be configured so that generated radiation will travel from the target through a beryllium window without passing through any media other than air or insulating gas.

Cooling Requirements. The product of mA and kV equals watts of electrical power in the electron beam striking the X-ray target. One watt of electrical power is equal to one volt-ampere. Therefore, in an X-ray tube operating at 10 mA (or 0.01 amperes) and 140 kV (140,000 volts), 1400 watts of electrical power are in the electron beam. Only a very small amount of the energy in the electron beam is converted into X radiation. This ranges from about 0.05 percent at 30 kV to approximately 10 percent in the MeV energy range. Most of the electron beam energy is converted into heat. This generation of heat in the X-ray tube target material is one of the limiting factors in the capabilities of the X-ray tube. It is necessary to remove this heat from the target as rapidly as possible. Various techniques are used for removal of heat. In some instances, the target is comparatively thin, and a suitable oil is circulated on the back surface to remove heat. Others (where the anode is being operated at ground potential) use water-antifreeze mixture to conduct heat away from the target. Most X-ray targets are mounted in copper, using the copper as a heat sink. Some units have no external method of heat removal, but depend upon heat dissipation into the atmosphere by fins of a thermal radiator. Some totally enclosed tubes depend upon the heat storage capacity of the anode structure to absorb the heat generated during X-ray exposure. This heat is then dissipated after the unit is turned off. These units usually have a duty cycle as a limiting factor of operation that is dependent upon the heat storage capacity of the anode structure and the rate of heat dissipation by thermal radiation. The rate of heat removal from the X-ray target is the primary limiting factor in X-ray tube operation.

Source: KARTA TECHNOLOGY, INC

Ndt Folks

Inherent Filtration of X-ray Equipment