Lecture 10b Production of X-Rays

X-ray Tube Ratings
Prof. J.K Tonui, PhD
School of Medicine,
Department of Radiology & Imaging
Learning Outcomes
 At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:
 Describe the factors affecting heat rating of an x-ray tube.
 Calculate the heat rating for 1 and 3 x-ray tubes both in HU
and SI Units.
 Interpret the x-ray tube rating or heat loading charts.
 Understand KW ratings of x-ray tubes.
 Understand various causes of x-ray tube damage and
precautionary measures.
2 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics
Introduction
 X-ray tube produces two forms of energy:
 X-ray (1%) and Heat (99%).
 Heat produced is undesired, hence
 Needs to be disposed off so as not to damage the x-ray tube, and
 Every tube has max. heat dissipation (called heat loading) that
should not be exceeded, because

 Exceeding it will definitely damage it and renders it useless.

Tube-Rating
 Heat load on x-ray tube
 Is heat produced during exposure, and
 Total heat produced depends on 3-factos:

1. Kilovoltage (kVp)
2. Milliamperes (mA)
3. Exposure time (s)
 Note that
 The max. temp. a tungsten filament can be raised without dangers of

evaporation is 3000 oC.

Heat
 The rate (power) of heat production in an x-ray tube is given
by:
1 W  1 V 1 A
 Hence,
For x-rays, the rate of heat produced is still given by
1 W  1000 V 
1
A OR 1 W  kV  mA
1000

Power supply to x-ray
 X-ray tube can be operated using either:
 Single-phase ac source, or
 Three-phase ac source.
 The single-phase ac source
 Uses rms (root mean square) values
 Three-phase ac source
 Uses peak values.

Measurement of Heat
 Two units are used to measure heat in x-ray tubes:
 Artificial unit called Heat Unit (HU) and
 SI Units – either Watt-second (Ws) or Joules (J).
 In both cases, the heat produced is the product of:
 Kilovoltage (kV),
 Milliamperes (mA) and
 Exposure time (s).

Heat Unit
 Heat Unit (HU)
 A unit of energy used to specify heat loading in x-rays tubes.
 Definitions:
 For Single Phase:

o (Kilovoltage) x (tube current) x (exposure time)
o kVp x mA x s
 For Three Phase (constant potential/high frequency)
o (Kilovoltage) x (tube current) x (exposure time)
o 1.35 x kVp x mA x sec

Heat Units:
Technique: Single
Calculation of heat:
Phase Exposure
HU
 70 kVp • 70 X 200 X 0.1

 200 mA
 0.1 second units
?
= 1400 heat

Heat Units
Technique: Calculation Heat
Three Phase Exposure In HU
 70 kVp = 70 x 200 x 0.1 x

1.35 = 1890 heat
 200 mA
 0.1 second
units
?
Heat in Joules
 The Joule, J,
 Is the SI units of energy and
 Is equal to 1 W x 1 s.
 To calculate heat in Joules, we use
 The rms value for single phase and
 The peak values for three-phase.

X-ray tube rating
 The rating of an x-ray tube is given
In terms of kilowatt (kW), and
Is a measure of the ability of the x-ray tube to make a
single exposure in a reasonable exposure duration, where

The reasonable exposure time is usually 0.1 s.

Tube Rating Chart
 The tube rating chart
 Indicates the load limit that the tube can safely accept, i.e.
the maximum heat.
 The safe limit is based upon
 Tube construction and
 The kVp waveform (rectifier)

Tube, Target, & Ratings
 Surface area bombarded by electrons depends on:
 The actual focal spot size;
 The target angle, and
 The anode diameter.
 The amount of heat produced in the anode depends on:
 Melting point of anode;
 Heat transfer of anode;
 Anode rotation speed and
 Length of exposure.

Tube Rating Charts
 The x-ray tube rating charts are
available for:
 Single exposure and
 Multiple rapid exposure
(angiographic) capability

Single Exposure Rating Charts
 Single exposure rating charts are
 Designed for a specific x-ray tube
 Every x-ray generator has its own chart:
 That shows allowed single exposure.
 Better ratings
 Means more heat allowed and
 Are associated with large focal spot and high
speed anode rotation.

Typical Single-Exposure Tube Rating
Chart
• Fig. shows maximum exposure time for single exposure
at a given kV & mA

Example
• What is the maximum exposure time at 90 kVp & 300
mA?

Example
• What is the maximum exposure time at 120 kVp &
400 mA?
Can’t do 120 kVp at

400 mA for any
exposure time.
?

Single Exposure Rating Charts
 Actually 8 charts combining: 1F 3F
 generator SFS SFS
3400 RPM 3400 RPM
o single phase (1F)
o three phase (3F) 1F 3F
LFS LFS
 focal spot 3400 RPM 3400 RPM
o small
o large 1F 3F
SFS SFS
 anode speed 9600 RPM 9600 RPM
o standard (3400 rpm)
o high (9600 rpm) 1F 3F
LFS LFS
9600 RPM 9600 RPM
On-Board Tube Rating Charts
 Checks to see if legal exposure at low-speed rotation and
 Automatically switches to high speed anode rotation as needed
or
 Locks out illegal exposures
Safe at No Safe at No
3400
No Exposure
9600
rpm? rpm?
Allowed
Yes Yes
Allow 3400 Allow 9600
rpm rpm
Exposure Exposure

Kilowatt Rating
 Kilowatt rating
 Gives ability of x-ray tube to make single exposure of reasonable
duration (usually 0.1 s)
 The rating can be determined from the tube rating chart using
the following standard assumptions:

 Use 0.1 s exposure time;
 Three phase chart, and
 High speed rotor rotation.

Kilowatt Rating (cont…)
 Units
 1 watt = 1 volt x 1 amp
 1 watt = 1 kilovolt x 1 mA
 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1 kilovolt x 1 mA / 1000
 kW rating for a standard 0.1 sec exposure
 kW rating = kVp X mA / 1000
 Use max. mA at given kVp @ .1 sec

Kilowatt Rating (cont…)
 To find kW rating,
 Use max. mA at 100
kVp for 0.1 s, hence

X
 kW rating = mA / 10
 Note that
~32 kW
 Each focal spot has its
own kW rating

Angiographic Rating Chart
 Provides max. heat units per exposure for
given # of
 Exposures per second and
 The total exposures

Total # of Exposures
2 5 10 20 30
Exposures 1 37,000 24,000 16,000 10,000 7400
per 2 25,000 17,000 12,200 8,000 6,200
second
3 19,000 13,600 10,000 7,000 5,300
4 15,500 11,400 8,600 6,000 4,500
Maximum Load in Peak kV X mA X sec.

Example
 How many total exposures can be done at
 90 kVp;
 100 mAs and 90 X 100 = 9000 (Maximum Load)
 3 frames / sec.
Total # of Exposures
2 5 10 13 20 30
Exposures 1 37,000 24,000 16,000 10,000 7400
per 2 25,000 17,000 12,200 8,000 6,200
second
3 19,000 13,600 10,000 7,000 5,300
4 15,500 11,400 8,600 6,000 4,500
Maximum Load in Peak kV X mA X sec.

Tube Rating Considerations
 The ability of an x-ray tube to withstand multiple
exposures during several hours of heavy use depends upon

 anode storage / cooling curves
 housing storage / cooling curves
 The housing cooling can be improved with
 Use of fans or
 oil / water circulators

Processes of X-Ray Generation
 X-rays are produced when high energy electrons are
stopped by a metal target, and

 The x-rays energy is given by:
E  eV
 Where
o e = 1.6 x 10 -19 C and for 1V
o For 1 V, E = 1.6 x 10 -19 J

Difference btw kVp & keV
 Note that
 An “eV” is a unit of energy, where
 1 eV = 1.6 x 10 -19 J of energy and
 1 keV = 1000 eV
 Kilo-peak-voltage (kVp)
 Is the peak or maximum voltage applied across the x-ray tube
(i.e. between anode and cathode) and 1 kVp = 1000 V.

Difference btw kVp & keV
 Note that
 The max. energy that an x-ray
acquires is proportional to the

kVp used, but
 Few of such photons are produce
with majority having lower

energy.

Tube Damage
Warning

Anode Damage
 When heat capacity of a tube is exceeded, then
 It produces melted spots or potholes on the anode surface, and
 Is usually caused by thermal shock (i.e. high mA on cold anode)
can cause cracks in anode (tube death)

Protecting the Anode
 To protect the anode,
 Requires warming up the tube slowly, which
 Eliminates thermal shock from high mA exposures on
cold anode.
 Note that
 Warm-up is needed whenever the tube is cold and
 If done once in the morning is not sufficient if tube
not used for several hours.

High Voltage Arcs
 Occurs when electrons move from filament to
tube housing instead of to anode
 Can be caused by filament evaporation
 deposition of filament on glass envelope as result of
o high filament currents
o long filament boost time
• reduce by not holding first trigger longer than needed
 Very short exposure with instantaneously very
high mA
 Generator often drops off line +
35 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics arcing

Tube Insert Damage
 Bearing Damage
 prevents proper rotation of anode
 anode can run too slow
 anode can stop
 results in thermal damage to anode (melted
spots)
 Filament break
 renders one focal spot
completely inoperative

Reducing Tube Wear: Lower mA
80 kVp 80 kVp
or 100 mA, 0.5 sec
500 mA, 0.1 sec
 Both exposure are 50 mAs

 Same radiation to image receptor
 Same dose to patient
Don’t
smoke
that tube

80 kVp 80 kVp
or
500 mA, 0.1 sec 100 mA, 0.5 sec
 Low mA reduces tube wear Don’t

smoke
 filament temperature is lower that tube
 reduces filament evaporation

80 kVp 80 kVp
or
500 mA, 0.1 sec 100 mA, 0.5 sec
 Use lowest mA (and largest focal spot)

consistent with patient motion
considerations
 Large focal spot allows higher mA to be
Don’t
used smoke
that tube

Reducing Tube Wear: Raise kVp
70 kVp 90 kVp
or
100 mAs 40 mAs
 High kVp exposures require less heat units for same film
density
 higher kVp more penetrating
 High kVp also reduces patient exposure
 More penetrating beam
 BUT higher kVp reduces contrast Don’t
smoke
 Use highest kVp consistent with required contrast that tube

Reducing Tube Wear
 Reduce use of high speed anode rotation
 use longer times instead of higher kV and/or mA
 High speed rotation greatly increases bearing wear

 generators automatically select high speed for high
combinations of kV & mA
 BUT longer exposure times
o increase exposure time & patient motion
 use lowest mA consistent with patient motion
considerations Don’t
smoke
that tube
Reducing Tube Wear
 Reduce first trigger holding time
 Reduces bearing wear
o Reduces tube rotation time
 Reduces filament evaporation
o filament evaporation can lead to tube arcing
 Holding first trigger sometimes necessary
 synchronizing breathing for children

Don’t
RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics
smoke
42
that tube
Oil Leaks
 May be accompanied by air bubble

in housing
 Eventually causes high voltage
arcing
 Requires immediate service
attention

Lecture 10b Production of X-Rays

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X-ray Tube Ratings

Prof. J.K Tonui, PhD

 Describe the factors affecting heat rating of an x-ray tube.

 Calculate the heat rating for 1 and 3 x-ray tubes both in HU

 Understand KW ratings of x-ray tubes.

 Understand various causes of x-ray tube damage and

 X-ray (1%) and Heat (99%).

 Heat produced is undesired, hence

 Needs to be disposed off so as not to damage the x-ray tube, and

should not be exceeded, because

3 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 Is heat produced during exposure, and

 Total heat produced depends on 3-factos:

 The max. temp. a tungsten filament can be raised without dangers of

4 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

5 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 The single-phase ac source

 Uses rms (root mean square) values

 Uses peak values.

6 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 Artificial unit called Heat Unit (HU) and

 SI Units – either Watt-second (Ws) or Joules (J).

 In both cases, the heat produced is the product of:

 Milliamperes (mA) and

 Exposure time (s).

7 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 A unit of energy used to specify heat loading in x-rays tubes.

 For Single Phase:

 For Three Phase (constant potential/high frequency)

o (Kilovoltage) x (tube current) x (exposure time)

o 1.35 x kVp x mA x sec

8 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 70 kVp • 70 X 200 X 0.1

9 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 70 kVp = 70 x 200 x 0.1 x

 Is the SI units of energy and

 To calculate heat in Joules, we use

 The rms value for single phase and

 The peak values for three-phase.

12 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

In terms of kilowatt (kW), and

Is a measure of the ability of the x-ray tube to make a

single exposure in a reasonable exposure duration, where

13 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

the maximum heat.

 The safe limit is based upon

 Tube construction and

 The kVp waveform (rectifier)

14 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 The actual focal spot size;

 The target angle, and

 The anode diameter.

 The amount of heat produced in the anode depends on:

 Melting point of anode;

 Heat transfer of anode;

 Anode rotation speed and

15 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 Multiple rapid exposure

16 RIB 810, 811 & 812 Imaging Physics

 Designed for a specific x-ray tube

 Every x-ray generator has its own chart:

 That shows allowed single exposure.

 Means more heat allowed and