Resident Physics Lectures

Christensen, Chapter 3B

X-Ray Generator Circuit

George David Associate Professor Medical College of Georgia Department of Radiology

X-Ray Generator
Supplies electrical power to xray tube
high voltage between anode & cathode filament voltage

Controls exposure timing

Turns exposure on and off High voltage switched on and off
Filament heated before exposure

Generator Components
control console
kVp adjust mA adjust time adjust
or mAs adjust

transformer
high voltage (step up) filament
low voltage (step down)

electronics cabinet
support circuitry

X-ray Circuit
High Voltage Transformer

Timer Circuit Line Autotransformer

Rectifier Circuit

mA selector

Filament Transformer

Timer Circuit Line Autotransformer

High Voltage Transformer

Rectifier Circuit

mA selector

Filament Transformer

Line Incoming line voltage connected to generator through a circuit breaker. Typ. 220-240 volt AC single phase 240, 480 volt AC three phase

Incoming Power
Line affects generator performance
diameter of wire length or wire other devices sharing branch circuit

Resistance of power line wires can reduce generator voltage during exposure affecting
power available to x-ray tube calibration

Circuit Breaker
Generator connected to power line through a circuit breaker Limits current from power line to generator Allows generator to be disconnected from power line
Incoming Power Line Circuit Breaker

Generator

Line Voltage Compensation

Incoming voltage can vary during day Generators need to correct for changes in line voltage
power line fluctuations affect calibration Incoming Power Line Circuit Breaker

Generator

Line Voltage Compensation

Compensation may be
automatic
most new & high end equipment

manual
user must make adjustment

Line
Line Compensation

Timer Circuit Line Autotransformer

High Voltage Transformer

Rectifier Circuit

mA regulator

Filament Transformer

Autotransformer High voltage Transformer has fixed ratio Autotransformer has variable ratio Autotransformer needed to provide variable kilovoltage to tube

Autotransformer
major kV selector
Timer Circuit

to high voltage transformer primary

Line

minor kV selector

to filament transformer primary

mA regulator Line Compensation

Autotransformer does line compensation & kVp selection

Generator Voltages
Input line voltage
single or three phase 115 - 480 Volts AC
1f

Autotransformer
provides variable voltage to primary of high voltage transformer
Auto Transformer 3f High Voltage Transformer Timer Circuit

Power Line

High Voltage Circuit

Supplies high voltage for x-ray tube Step-up transformer
primary from autotransformer secondary to rectifier circuit mA monitored at center grounded point of secondary

Autotransformer

mA

Rectifier Circuit

High Voltage Transformer

High Voltage Transformer

Grounded metal box filled with oil
electrical insulator

Function
increases or decreases alternating voltage

Also contains rectifier circuit

changes alternating current into direct current

Self (tube) Rectified Circuit

X-Ray tube acts as rectifier Current only flows from cathode to anode cathode is source of free electrons Rarely seen
Secondary of High Voltage Transformer Voltage applied to tube

mA waveform

Self-rectification Disadvantages
Wasted Used

hot anode can emit electrons

accelerate & can destroy filament
Voltage applied to x-ray tube

half of electrical cycle wasted

mA waveform

X-Rays Produced

Halfwave Rectifier Circuit

X-ray tube connected to secondary of high voltage transformer through diode rectifiers Alternating voltage applied to secondary of high voltage transformer

Voltage applied to tube

Halfwave Rectifier Circuit

+
First Half Cycle: Diodes closed Voltage applied to tube Tube current (mA) results

X
-

Second Half Cycle: Diodes open No voltage applied to tube No tube current (mA)

Halfwave Rectified Circuit

60 pulses per second
only positive half cycle of high tension transformer used

inefficient
negative half cycle wasted Secondary of High Voltage Transformer
Output of High Tension Transformer Applied to x-ray tube Blocked (not used) Applied to X-ray Tube

Fullwave Rectifier
Four diodes 120 pulses/second exposure times half of halfwave circuit
Secondary of High Voltage Transformer

Voltage applied to tube (also mA waveform)

Fullwave Rectifier
Voltage applied to tube (also mA waveform) First Half Cycle Second Half Cycle

X
X X

Full-Wave Rectification
Rectifiers
Four diode bridge configuration used with single phase

both + & - half cycle of high tension transformer used

efficient circuit reverses negative half cycle & applies to x-ray tube
Output of High Tension Transformer Applied to X-ray Tube

Tube

Pulsed Radiation
single phase input power results in pulsed radiation Disadvantages
intensity only significant when voltage is near peak low voltage heats target and produces low-energy photons
absorbed in tube, filter, or patient can contribute to dose
Applied to X-ray Tube Radiation Waveform

Three-Phase Generators
Commercial power generally delivered as 3 phase phases 120o apart

Single Phase Power

Three Phase Power

Three-Phase Generators
Rectifier circuit
Inverts negative voltage sends highest of 3 phases to x-ray tube

Input 3 Phase Voltage

Rectified

To X-Ray Tube

Three-Phase Generators
much higher tube ratings than single phase more efficient than single phase
shorter exposures lower exposure

Single Phase Power

Three Phase Output

3f Generator Circuits
pulses
number of peaks per 1/60 second (16.6 msec) power line cycle

windings
3 primary coils (one for each phase) 3 or 6 secondary
with 6 secondaries, 2 secondary coils induced per primary

Three Phase Output

Ripple
variation of kilovoltage from maximum usually expressed as percentage of maximum kV
Ripple

Ripple Example

80 kVp

72 kVp

Ripple = 80 - 72 = 8 kVp OR 8 / 80 = .1 = 10%

Ripple Typical Values

single phase
always 100 % (kV ranges from zero to maximum)
Single Phase Output

three phase
4-13%

constant potential
0 %

Three Phase Output

Medium / high frequency

very low; approx 0.
Constant Potential or High Frequency Output

Three Phase Transforming

3 coils can be hooked up in 2 ways

Delta

Wye

3-phase generator
Primary windings
generally delta

Secondary windings
may be delta or wye

Primary

Secondary

3-phase generator
Six pulse six rectifier
one primary delta one secondary wye six rectifiers 13.5% ripple
Ripple
Primary

One on each side of each secondary coil

Three Phase Output

Secondary

3 Phase Generator
6-Pulse Twelve Rectifier
1 delta primary 2 wye secondaries
6 secondary windings two diodes per winding
Primary

13.5% ripple

Ripple

Secondary

Secondary

Three Phase Output

3 Phase Generator
12-Pulse Twelve Rectifier
1 delta primary 2 secondaries, 1 wye, 1 secondary
30o phase difference between secondaries 6 secondary windings 2 diodes per winding

Primary

3.5% ripple Ripple

Secondary

Secondary

Three Phase Output

Timer Circuit Line Autotransformer

High Voltage Transformer

Rectifier Circuit

mA regulator

Filament Transformer

mA regulator

Circuitry for mA selection Adjusts mA on the fly during exposure.

Timer Circuit Line Autotransformer

High Voltage Transformer

Rectifier Circuit

mA selector

Filament Transformer

Filament Transformer

Steps down AC voltage from Autotransformer & mA selector to smaller AC voltage required by filament (8-12 volts typical)

mA selection
Allows selection from available discrete mA stations. Applies correct voltage to primary of filament transformer. Line
10 mA 25 mA 50 mA 100 mA

200 mA 300 mA 400 mA

mA stabilizer

to filament transformer primary

Line Compensation

mA Stabilization During Exposure

On first trigger
mA regulator supplies anticipated voltage to filament transformer primary

mA monitored during exposure Corrections made to filament voltage during exposure as necessary
if mA low, filament voltage boosted if mA high, filament voltage lowered

Generator kilowatt (kW) Rating

measured under load kW rating changes with kVp Standard

measure at 100 kVp

Generator kW Rating
three phase
kV X mA / 1000 mAmax / 10 at 100 kVp

1000 mA @ 70 kVp 800 mA @ 80 kVp 600 mA @ 100 kVp 300 mA @ 120 kVp 600 / 10 = 60 kW

Generator kW Rating
single phase
kV X mA X 0.7 / 1000 mAmax X 0.7 / 10 at 100 kVp

600 mA @ 70 kVp 500 mA @ 80 kVp 400 mA @ 100 kVp 250 mA @ 120 kVp 400 X 0.7 / 10 = 28 kW

 Typical home & small business power inexpensive transformer windings

1 primary coil 1 secondary coil

1f vs. 3f Generators 1f 3f
Industrial
expensive transformer

power
windings

3 primary coils one for each phase 6 secondary coils

2 secondary coils induced per primary)

 100% ripple 8 ms minimum exp. Time

1/120th second

1f vs. 3f Generators 1f 3f
4-13%

ripple

lower output intensity puts less heat in tube for same technique

higher average kVp slightly less patient exposure

<=1

ms minimum exp.

time higher output intensity puts more heat in tube

Exposure Time Control

mechanical
obsolete

electronic, measuring
time (crystal) power line pulses

automatic (phototiming)
terminates exposure based on radiation received by receptor

Phototiming Geometry
entrance type
detector in front of film detector must be essentially invisible

exit type
detector behind film obsolete except for mammography
detector visible because of high contrast image
Entrance type Sensor Grid Film Exit type Sensor

Phototiming Radiation Detectors

screen & photomultiplier tubes (PM Tubes)
obsolete

ionization chambers solid-state detectors

Ionization Chambers
Almost always entrance type Notes
thin parallel aluminum plates are electrodes
voltage applied between plates collect ions produced by radiation in air between electrodes

Photon

collected ions produce electric current

Solid State Detectors

PN semiconductor junction generates current when struck by radiation small fast response little beam attenuation
Photon Electric Current

Phototiming Fields
1, 2, or 3 fields may be selected individually or in combination proper positioning critical

Phototiming Notes

must be calibrated for particular film-screen system some generators allow selection from several preset film/screen combinations

Phototiming Notes
phototimer must correct for
rate response kVp response of
film/screen system phototiming sensor

Higher kVp beam more penetrating

Less attenuated by phototimer detector

safety
exposure limited to 600 mAs if phototimer does not terminate exposure (2000 mAs for < 50 kV)