X-RAY CIRCUITS

1. PRIMARY CIRCUIT–Control Panel

a) Main Switch: The switch that generates the power to the x-ray tube.
b) Exposure Switch: A remote control device that permits current to flow through
the circuit.
c) Timer: Device used to end the exposure at an accurately measured preset time.

2. SECONDARY CIRCUIT–

a) High voltage transformers,

b) Rectification & x-ray tube.
c) Filament Control circuits

An X-ray generator delivers the electrical power to energize the x-ray tube and permit the
selective of x-ray energy-ray quantity and exposure time.
Major internal components of generating includes

a) Transformer
b) Diodes and rectifier circuit
c) Filament circuits
d) Kilovolt and mill ampere meters
Generators

a) Single phase generator

b) Three phase generator
c) Constant potential generator
d) High frequency generator

Control console High voltage X-ray tube Filament circuit

- Line monitor - Step up transformer - Step down transformer

- Auto transformer -Rectification circuit - focal spot selective
- KvP selective -mA meter - filament
- mA selective - X-ray tube
- Timing circuit

Rectification:

 A rectifier is an electrical apparatus that changes alternating current into direct

current.
• It is composed of one or more diodes
 In the x-ray generator, rectifier circuits divert the flow of electrons in the high-
voltage circuit so that a direct current is established from the cathode to the anode
in the x-ray tube, despite the alternating current and voltage produced by the
transformer.

Self rectified X-ray tube circuit (Half wave rectification)

 In this, one side of the transformer is connected to the cathode and other to the
anode of the X-ray tube. When cathode is negative and anode is positive,
electrons flow from the cathode to the anode and X-ray are produced.
 During next half cycle, the anode of the x ray tube is negative and the filament is
positive. No current flows in this half cycle and there is no X-ray production.
 Since the X-ray tube itself changes an AC into DC, it is called self rectification.
Only half wave of electrical circuit is used, Hence it is called half wave
rectification
 An X-ray circuit producing 60 pulses of X ray per second is called HWR
SINGLE PHASE X-RAY GENERATOR

 A Single phase X ray generator or full wave rectifier circuit utilizes a Single
phase AC supply as input which utilizes full potential of the electrical supply
 Both the half cycles of the AC are used to produce X-rays. Hence X ray output
per unit time is twice as large as that of half wave rectification.
 The voltage across the circuit is supplied by a step up transformer
 In the first half cycles, the electrons will flow from A through the rectifier D1 to
the X ray tube, and return through the rectifier D2 to the side B.
 In the next half cycle the electrons will flow from B through the rectifier D3 to
the filament and return through the rectifier D4 to side A. Thus the four rectifiers
produce pulsating DC through the X-ray tube
 Half wave and full wave rectifier circuits are generating only pulsating potential.
 This will cause the exposure lost during voltage fluctuation
 Hence single phase generator with constant potential circuit or three phase
generator is required.
Filament control circuits:

 Supplies power to the filament of the x-ray tube so that the filament supplies
enough electrons by thermionic emission.
 Modifies incoming line power to produce thermiyonic emission from the filament
wire.
 Filament circuit adjusts to mA ratings (50,100,200,etc.)
 After mA selection, ,current sent to step down transformer to modify amps that
reach.

 A step down transformer to reduce the voltage from 220V to 10V.

 A variable resistor to control filament current and therefore filament temperature.
 An ammeter to give an indication of filament current which is directly related to
mA.
  The tube current is directly proportional to the filament current so the ammeter is
usually placed on the secondary circuit of the high voltage circuit as transformers
are not 100% efficient.

The Transformer.

 A transformer is an electromagnetic device used for increasing or decreasing the

voltage (potential difference) of incoming electrical energy to an appropriate level
without appreciable loss of energy. It also transfers electrical energy from one
circuit to another by mutual electromagnetic induction.
 Transformers are an essential part of an x-ray machine in order that the current
supplied through the mains may be converted into a suitable form for the
operation of an X-ray tube. Normally they include:

Autotransformer.

 This allows fluctuations in the mains input voltage to be corrected before the
current is fed to the high tension transformer .
 Where you adjust the kVp for the exposure.(provides location for KvP)

 Allows the selection of input voltage to step-up and step – down transformer

Step-down or filament transformer.

 Used to provide high current to the X-ray tube filament.

 This permits the supply of a suitably reduced current to the cathode filament.

A high tension transformer.

 This circuit produces a large potential difference between cathode and anode
to accelerate electrons produced at the filament to high velocities.
 High tension transformers convert high Amp and low kV to mA and high kV.

 It consists of 2 circuits (an autotransformer and step-up transformer)

 Step-up transformer:
o These alter the incoming voltage to kV.
o This transformer bumps the voltage up so that the x-ray tube has very
high voltage to make the electrons have enough energy to form x-rays.
o The kV meter is placed across the primary circuit and measures
incoming voltage but calibrated to read across the x-ray tube voltage
(kV).
The tube stand

 This term is used to denote the apparatus to support the X-ray tube during the

performance of radiography.

 It can include many different forms of suspension, and vary from small table top

stands or larger mobile floor stands, to overhead ceiling mountings.

Control panel

 It is a separate unit connected electrically to the X-ray machine. It contains

meters and switches to select kVp, mA and exposure time. The control panel

varies with the type of X-ray machine but most often following components, or

some of them exit.

 On-off switch: It is a main switch to turn the unit 'on'. The switch permits flow of

current to the tube at 'on' position and prevents the same at 'off ' position. For the

safely of the X-ray tube and also to avoid an accidental exposure, the switch

should remain in 'off ' position when machine is not being used.

The kilovoltage Selector

 In the modern type of X-ray apparatus and in those operating on a pre

determined milliamperge the kilovoltage control will be directly calibrated (usually

in ascending 5 k V values) so that the described value can be easily selected.

The Milliameter and the Milliamperge Selector

 It will be found that the small and medium sized X-ray apparent cannot be set to

operate at maximum milliamperge and maximum kilovoltage simultaneously.

  The significance of the milliamperge is that it affects the amount of X-rays

produced and a level has to be selected which is sufficient to produce an easily

recognizable image on the X-ray film without obliterating that image by over

exposure.

 However the amount of radiation is also controlled by the length of the exposure

and is best expressed in milliampere-seconds (i.e., the milliamperge multiplied by

the time in seconds).

Timer and exposure button:

 In any given radiographic examination, the quantity of X-rays reaching the film is

directly related lo the X-ray tube current and the time for which the tube is

energized i.e. the exposure time. The range of exposure time in available

machines is large with minimum setting being as short as 0,001 second. An

exposure device mostly consists of a two-stage exposure button of which first half

depression rotates the anode and a complete depression, after a short pause,

causes actual radiographic exposure