CONSTANT POTENTIAL
X-RAY TECHNOLOGY: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
NDT in Canada Conference
June 16, 2015
Rebecca Rudolph
SALES MANAGER IXP
1
THE COMET GROUP
COMET, AG is a 65 year-old Swiss company and a leading supplier of advanced system and component solutions based on x-ray, electron beam, and RF technologies
Provider of X-ray/EB source technology supporting customer screening, inspection, & material processing requirements
Worldwide representation, with global operations supporting OEMs on a global basis in the US, Europe, and China
Strategy underpinned by product innovation, staff expertise and A+ customer experiences
2
Radiography Modalities
and Trends
How X-rays are Produced
Transitioning to Digital: Applications
and Images
Conclusions
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
3
APPLICATIONS OF X-RAY SOURCES
4
Food Inspection
Fish bones inspection Jelly inspection
Thickness Gauging
Hot steel plate Cold steel plate
e-beam
Sterilization of Food Packaging
Curing of Inks
new
Non Destructive Testing
Wheel inspection Pipeline inspection
Security
Luggage inspection Truck inspection Engine block inspection
Inspection of parked Cars
Sterilization of Pharma Packaging
5
“The successful use of radiography depends on the ability of the radiation source, be it x-ray or gamma, to provide sufficient radiation to penetrate the [material] and produce and image of acceptable contrast and definition.”1
STANDARD X-RAY SYSTEMS
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• Complete x-ray systems, generator sets and x-ray tubes
• 75kV to 600kV and up to 6 kW for highest power applications
• Oil insulated, rugged for field use
• High reliability, precise and repeatable
• Low temperature drift, low high voltage ripple
WELL ESTABLISHED
FOR FLAW
DETECTION AND
EVALUATION
PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEMS
• 160kV – 300kV tubeheads
• Electronic tube head, gas insulated tube tank
• Power transformer
• High voltage multiplier column and filament supply
• Metal ceramic X-ray insert
• Fan for air cooling of anode cooler w/ integrated lead protection
• Small Focal Spot (1.00mm and 3.00mm)
300kV X-Ray Tube
Tube Head Electronics
Power transformer
High voltage Mulitiplier
Filament supply
Metal Ceramic X-Ray Insert
Anode Cooler
Cooling Fan
300kV X-Ray Tube
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PORTABLE X-RAY – THE EVOLUTION
• From oil filled to gas- filled tube heads
• From glass tubes to Metal Ceramic X-ray inserts
• Improved reliability, X-ray performance and robustness
MODEL YEAR WEIGHT
300kV Portable X-ray Tube Head 1962
130kg
300kV Portable X-ray Tube Head
2015
29kg
CONSTANT POTENTIAL ENERGY
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From half wave to constant potential high voltage technology.
SIGNIFICANTLY
SHORTER EXPOSURE
TIMES
Do
se r
ate
Non constant potential energy
High voltage High voltage
Constant potential energy
Dose r
ate
Pulsed X-ray
• Can be battery powered
• Smaller systems easily transported in the field
• Ease of use
High MeV systems
• Large footprint
• Extremely high penetration
• Containment is costly
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OTHER X-RAY SOURCES
GAMMA
Iridium 192, Cobalt 60, Selenium 75, Yt 169
• Small diameter source, guide tube
• Limited components - Most servicing and maintenance in-field.
• Small size and low weight
• No power required
• Simple to “crank out” and “crank in”. Nothing to enter and no
values to program.
POSITIONING
EASE OF
MAINTENTANCE
PORTABILITY
POWER
EASE OF USE
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How X-rays are Produced
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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• Tube made of glass or metal and a very good vacuum (<10-6 mbar –10-8 mbar ) • Opposing Cathode (-) and Anode (+) • High-voltage Iss applied across the cathode and anode
- Cathode
+ Anode
Filament High Voltage (e.g. 160 kV)
Vacuum
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS – KEY COMPONENTS
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- Cathode
+ Anode
Filament
Vacuum
Focal Spot
High Voltage (e.g. 160 kV)
• Electrical field is shaped by tuning the geometry of tube, cathode and anode in such a way that electrons are focused onto one spot on the anode
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS – FOCAL SPOT
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- Cathode
+ Anode
Filament
Vacuum
Focal Spot
e- e- e- e- e- e-
• Filament (W) is heated above 2000°C causing thermionic emission of electrons • Electrical field accelerates the electrons toward the anode. • Impacting electrons create Brems- and/or Characteristic radiation • Primary output is Thermal Energy (98-99%), X-Ray Energy is only 1-2%
High Voltage (e.g. 160 kV)
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS – X-RAY GENERATION
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e- e- e-
e- e- e-
- Cathode
Filament
Vacuum
Focal Spot
Window High Voltage (e.g. 160 kV)
+ Anode
• The more electrons hitting the anode / the focal spot, the more X-Ray radiation is created. Dose and intensity increase.
• The Anode (made of Tungsten / Tungsten alloy) gets hot and cooling is necessary (water, oil, air)!
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS – X-RAY GENERATION
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e- e- e-
e- e- e-
Coolant - Cathode
Filament
Vacuum
Focal Spot
Window High Voltage (e.g. 160 kV)
+ Anode
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS – X-RAY GENERATION
• The more electrons hitting the anode / the focal spot, the more X-Ray radiation is created. Dose and intensity increase.
• The Anode (made of Tungsten / Tungsten alloy) gets hot and cooling is necessary (water, oil, air)!
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INFLUENCE OF TARGET AND FOCAL SPOT
Enhanced resolution due to smaller focal spots:
FOCAL SPOT
SPECIFICS
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The bigger the spot the bigger the possible thermal load.
The smaller the spot the higher the image sharpness.
Small, Round & Uniform Good Image Quality
INFLUENCE OF TARGET AND FOCAL SPOT
Enhanced resolution due to smaller focal spots:
FOCAL SPOT
SPECIFICS
19
MXR-451
Spot = 2.5 (900W)
MXR-451HP/11
Spot = 0.4 (700W)
Transitioning to Digital: Applications and
Images
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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THE MODERN X-RAY SYSTEM
• Improved focal spots for better images with digital imaging media
• Lower weight
• Fast exposure times
• Ideal for weld and seam inspection
EASE OF USE
(15 minutes from weld
available to results)
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THE MODERN X-RAY SYSTEM
• ideal for flaw identification and inspection
• X-Ray power is easily adjusted
• Same power on the first to last day on the job
POWER RANGE AND
AVAILABILITY
16” pipe scan
Contrast adjusted and
artifact magnified
16” Pipe Scan
Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified
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THE MODERN X-RAY SYSTEM
• Voiding and undercuts
FLEXIBILITY IN
CHALLENGING
ENVIRONMENTS
16” pipe scan
Contrast adjusted and
artifact magnified
16” Pipe Scan
Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified
23
THE NEXT GEN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM
• Diagnostics via USB, Ethernet and Bluetooth
• Exposure calculator for faster set up in the field
• Recoverable history for repeatable exposures
• Better System integration
• Seamless User Interface
• Less paper work
REDUCED DOWNTIME
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DIGITAL X-RAY
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• Simple physical and software integration
RTR
Digital Imaging Solutions
Crawlers
• Long up-time with no degradation
of signal quality
• Short exposure times
• Higher resolution and lower noise in many cases
WHEN PAIRED WITH
CONSTANT
POTENTIAL X-RAY
LOOKING FORWARD
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• CP and new X-ray sources lend themselves to the constantly evolving digital imaging world
• Smaller focal spots for higher resolution
• Cleaner spectra leads to less noise
• Greener technology
• More integrated digital solutions!
THE SMART EVO SERIES 27 27
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
17-06-2015
1. 2006. Hayward and Currie, Radiography of Welds Using
Selenium 75, Ir 192 and X-Rays. 12th A-PCNDT,
Auckland, New Zealand.
REFERENCES
17-06-2015