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X-Ray-Tube Operation

X-ray Tube Operation

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26 views3 pages

X-Ray-Tube Operation

X-ray Tube Operation

Uploaded by

ariswjaya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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X-Ray Tube 101

An X-Ray tube is a type of vacuum tube device that takes electrical energy and converts a portion of it
into X-Rays. X-Ray tube fabrication is quite complicated and is an amazing marriage of physics, material
science, and vacuum technology. Old world glassblowing skills are used for glass envelope tubes, metal
and ceramic materials are also used. X-Ray tubes are actually very inefficient in the process of making X-
Rays. 99% of the power put into an X-Ray tube is dissipated as heat. Proper thermal management of the
X-Ray tube is crucial for reliable long term operation.

Hot Cathode X-Ray Tube


Hot cathode X-Ray tubes utilize a “floating filament”, that is the filament winding is referenced to the
high voltage output potential. Two power sources are required to power this X-Ray tube; a negative
polarity high voltage power supply that provides the accelerating potential from cathode to anode, and
a filament power supply that drives the filament.

Cathode and Anode Assembly


The cathode of the X-Ray tube houses the filament winding which is located in a cup like assembly. The
anode is typically a large mass of metal that the created electron beam will strike. Since most of the
energy dissipated in the X-Ray tube will be in the form of heat, the anode assembly is usually an
integrated heatsink as well.

Basic Operation
The filament power supply (10 volts @ 5 amps, typical) powers the filament winding in a process called
thermionic emission. This is the flow of electrons from the surface of a material caused by thermal
vibrational energy. Electrons “boil off” the tungsten filament winding creating a localized cloud of free
electrons.

The floating filament winding is referenced to the high voltage output potential. When the high voltage
power supply is enabled a large voltage differential is created between the cathode and anode of the X-
Ray tube. This causes the electrons to leave the cathode side of the X-Ray tube in the form of an
electron beam, streaming across the gap between the cathode and anode and strike the heavy metal
anode assembly.

In a process called Bremsstrahlung, the translation of this German term is “braking radiation”. The vast
majority of the electrons give up their energy as heat, but a small percentage create X-Rays in this
process.

Emission Current
This “emission current” is regulated by the X-Ray generator by controlling the setting of the filament
power supply. A higher current setting will produce a large electron cloud resulting in more emission
current. Conversely a lower current setting of the filament will produce a smaller electron cloud
resulting in less emission current. By adjusting the setting of the filament current, the emission control
circuitry can regulate the emission current created by the X-Ray generator. Emission current is
proportional to X-Ray intensity. The setting of the emission current (mA) and kV are the two critical
parameters required to make an X-Ray image.
X-Ray Tube Operation – Hot Cathode

Hot Anode X-Ray Tube


Hot anode X-Ray tubes utilize a positive polarity high voltage power supply that provides the
accelerating potential to the anode, and a filament power supply that drives the filament winding
referenced to the low side of the X-Ray tube. While the high voltage polarity is reversed, the process of
generating and regulating emission current is essentially the same as described above.

X-Ray Tube Operation – Hot Anode

Functionality of the X-Ray tube operation is essentially the


same when compared to a Hot Cathode type X-Ray Tube
Filament Limit
X-Ray tube filaments have a maximum current specification, which is the maximum amount of current
the filament can handle without damage. This specification is provided by the X-Ray tube manufacturer.
If the filament of the X-Ray tube is subjected to current levels beyond this maximum specification it is
possible to damage the filament (typically melting the filament winding, creating an open circuit)
rendering the X-Ray tube inoperable. It is the user’s responsibility to assure that the maximum current
the X-Ray generator will provide is at or below the maximum current specification for the X-Ray tube to
be used.

Spellman X-Ray generators have an adjustable Filament Limit circuit that allows the user to set the
maximum current the filament power supply can provide. To prevent damage to your X-Ray tube make
certain you obtain the maximum filament current specification from your X-Ray tube manufacturer and
you set the Filament Limit accordingly. Information on how to set the Filament Limit can be found in the
X-Ray generators operators’ manual.

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