Chapter 2

Operate & Maintain X-ray Machine

COMPONENT
AND
CONTROL IN X-RAY CIRCUIT

BY NARDOS MIRKU
Learning objectives
 After completing this unit every student should be able to:
 Define transformer
 Identify the types of transformers used in x-ray circuit
 Explain why transformers are necessary for x-ray
production
 Describe principles for operation of transformer
 List components of transformers
 Differentiate transformer power losses
 Describe ways of minimization of transformer power
loss
 Introduction
 In order to make an x-ray production it is
necessary to heat filament so that the
electrons are given off and to connect x-ray
tube to the high voltage so that the
electrons moves fast through the tube and
thus have high kinetic energy.
 Important components of x-ray set are.

The filament circuit and the Main

circuit(high voltage source).
 High Voltage Power
Supply
 A high voltage power supply is an important
component of an X-ray generation system.
 Filament uses a relatively small voltage
supply to cause small currents (mV) in the
filament, while the anode of the tube
requires a large voltage supply to maintain a
high positive charge for acceleration of the
electrons.
 Commercial power is commonly available as
 X-ray systems require very high voltages
commonly in the range from 5 kilovolts
(kV) to as much as 400 kV or more.
 So how can we supply low voltage to the
filament, and high voltage to the anode?
This is accomplished by using a
transformer.
 A transformer will allow us to supply the
proper voltages to the filament and anode.
High voltage circuit(Main Circuit)
1.PRIMARY CIRCUIT– Control Panel
Main Switch: The switch that generates the
power to the x-ray tube.
Exposure Switch: A remote control device that
permits current to flow through the circuit.
Timer: Device used to end the exposure at an
accurately measured preset time.
2.SECONDARY CIRCUIT– high voltage
transformers(HTT) , rectification & x-ray tube.
 Cont…
 This circuit has two transformers
A step up transformer
An auto transformer
 The main function of high tension circuit is
providing high voltage to accelerate
electrons across the x-ray tube.
 The circuit modifies incoming current to
produce x-rays by boosting voltage to range
necessary for x-ray production.
 Cont…
 An autotransformer is actually the kVp
selector and is located in the control
panel.
 Step up transformer (HVT) has many
more turns in the secondary coil than in
the primary coil.
 It increases to voltage by factor of 600.
 The potential difference a cross the
secondary coil may be as high as
 Cont…
 The meters themselves are located on the control panel,
but their connections are in the high-voltage circuit.
 KVP selectors can be placed in the circuit between the
autotransformer and step-up transformer.
 The connection for the MA meter must be in the
secondary coil of high voltage transformer to record
current flow accurately.
 The switch that opens and closes the high voltage circuit
is located between the autotransformer and high voltage
transformer .
 The switch begins and terminates the x-ray exposure
 Transformers
 Transformers are
electromagnetic devices that
allow a voltage of alternating
current to be changed.
 The voltage may be increased
or decreased.
Transformers are comprised of two sets
of windings (coiled conductors) that
are electrically isolated from each
other.
One set of windings is connected to a
power supply and is known as the
primaries.
The other set of windings is connected
to a load (in this case the X-ray tube)
 Components of transformer

 Basic components of transformer

are:
1. Primary winding
2. Secondary winding
3. Iron core
Iron core 17
 The core of high tension transformer is
rectangular in shape.
 Itis made of thin separate sheets insulated
from each other.
 The process of separation of sheets using
various types of insulators is called
lamination.
 The core is made of special irons alloys like
silicon iron, nickel iron and these help to
reduce eddy currents.
 The windings 18
 Transformersare comprised of two sets of
windings (coiled conductors).
 Are electrically isolated from each other.
 One set of windings is connected to a power supply
and is known as the primaries.
 The primary winding is the winding connected to
the source of power.
 The other set of windings is connected to a load (in
this case the x-ray tube) and is referred to as the
secondary windings.
 Cont…
 Anx-ray equipment is just not directly
connected to the source, where electricity is
generated.
 There
are many other components required to
complete the circuit
 Transformer can classify as follow;
 Step up transformer
 Step down transformer
 Autotransformer
 TRANSFORMERS
Autotransformer-That contains
an iron core and a single
winding.
 Wire is used in the x-ray circuit
to provide a small increase in
voltage before the step up
transformer.
Step-up transformer(HTT)-that
increases voltage from primary to the
secondary coil and decreases current in
the same proportion.
 Has more turns in secondary than in
primary coil.
 Is used to increase voltage to the
kilovoltage level for x-ray production.
Step-down transformer-that decreases
voltage from primary to the secondary coil
and increases current in the same
proportion.
 Has more turns in the primary than in the
secondary coil.
 Is used in the filament portion to increase
current flow to the cathode.
 Filament Circuit
 It is a circuit that allows electrical current to
flow from the main supply towards the x-ray
tube.
 It is responsible to control current supplied to
the filament used for thermionic emission
process.
 It modifies the incoming line power to
produce the thermionic emission from the
filament wire of the x-ray tube.
 The incoming line must be modified to 3-5
 Cont…
 Current control device regulates the amperage
supplied to the filament in the tube.
 It is adjusted by Radiologic technologists at the
console to equivalent of mA ratings of
50,100,200,300, 400 or more.
 The circuit contains, a variable resistors and a
step-down transformer.
 It is a meter which measures a quantity of
electricity or the electric charge.
 Control Factor Electrical Device and
Location in Circuit
kVp Selection kVp Level Autotransformer (between
Con… incoming line and exposure
switch)
mA Selection Filament Variable resistor (in filament
Current circuit between incoming line
and step-down transformer
Time Selection Length of Timer circuit (between
exposure exposure switch and step-up
transformer)

Rotor Switch Speed of Stator (separate circuit from

rotating anode stator of anode motor)

Exposure Switch Moment of Switch (between

exposure autotransformer and timer
circuit)
1.Main breaker -this is
where the alternating
current comes from to
power the circuit.
2.Exposure switch
-when you push the
button to start an
exposure this switch
closes to start the
exposure.
3.Autotransformer-this
is where you adjust the
kVp for the exposure.
4. Timer circuit -this part
of the circuit stops the
exposure.
5. High-voltage step-up
transformer-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.
6. Four-diode rectification
circuit -this makes the
current only go in one
7. Filament circuit
variable resistor -this
variable resistor adjusts
the current going to the
filament.
8. Filament step-down
transformer -this
transformer steps the
voltage down and
therefore the current up.
9. X-ray tube -this is
where the x-rays are
created.
 Transformer losses
 In an ideal transformer the power obtained from
the secondary winding and the power applied to
the primary winding is the same that is
Watts input = Watts output
 In practice there must be at least 10% power loss.
 B/c a transformer is made of winding on an iron
core and works by an electromagnetic induction,
it has two sort of circuit associated with it these
are
1.The electrical circuit which are the winding
2.The magnetic circuit which is the core
 Con…

The power losses which is occur in a

transformer are divided in to two
separate groups
Losses in the electrical circuit,
that is winding
Losses in the magnetic circuit,
that is core
 Con…
Losses in winding(Copper Loss)
 Power losses arises in both the primary and secondary
winding occur b/c the winding have resistance and
power is lost as heat in the windings when current flows
through this resistance.
Losses in core(Iron Loss)
 Power loss arise in the core of a transformer are called
iron losses.
 They arise through the magnetization of the core and
they are classified as
1. Hysteresis loss
2. Eddy current loss
 Hysteresis loss
 Hysteresis loss is the power used to maintain
the alteration of the magnetic flux in the iron
core.
 Transformer have alternating current which are
constantly change in direction this means that
the core is magnetized first in one direction and
then in opposite way.
 Energy is used in establishing the magnetic
field in each direction and power is lost as heat
in core. The materials used for the core are
chosen so that the total iron losses are
 Eddy current loss
Eddy current loss occurs due to
change in magnetic field associated
with the windings induced current
in the core. These current are called
eddy currents and they are
minimized by laminating the core.
They are lost energy which is
dissipated as heat in the core.
 RECTIFIERS
A rectifieris an electrical device that
converts alternating current (AC) to direct
current (DC) by using one or more P-N
junction diode.
Diode is a two terminal device that allows
electric current in one direction and blocks
electric current in another direction.
Resistor is an electronic component that
restricts the current flow to a certain level.
 Con…
The transformer, the rectifier and
the x-ray tube together constitute
what is called the high tension
generator.
The earlier rectifier used were
thermionic diode values but in
modern practice these are
suppressed by what are called solid
 Thermionic Diode
Thermionic diode is a thermionic-
valve device (also known as a
vacuum tube, tube, or valve),
consisting of a sealed evacuated
glass envelope containing two
electrodes: a cathode heated by a
filament, and a plate (anode).
X-ray tube is one form of a vacuum
diode.
 Con…
The filament of the valve is heated by a
step down transformer and emits the
electron. If the valve is connected to a
voltage source in a complete circuit in
such a way that it’s filament is negative
the electrons from the filament are drawn
across to the anode and the valve passes
current, if the filament is positive no
electron will be drawn across and the
value acts as a block to current.
 Con…
When X is negative during the negative half
cycle both the value and x-ray tube conduct
current voltage from the high-tension
transformer is reached the x-ray tube and
the valves.
In the next half cycle of the main alteration
(when X is positive) none of them conducts,
so no current flow the alternating main
supply has been rendered through the
rectifying system as a unidirectional flow of
 Self-rectification
When the x-ray tube itself serves as
rectifier the circuit is called self
rectified(Thermionic diode).
Connection between the high tension
transformer and x-ray tube directly.
The x-ray tube is capable of producing
x-ray only during the half cycle of the
Ac cycle.
 Solid State Rectifier
Conduction takes place by electrons travel
through solid material as opposed to
electrons flows through vacuum.
The solid material used are semi
conductors and insulators
e.g. Silicon & germanium
Semi conductors can be used to conduct
or insulate.
 What is p-n junction semiconductor diode?

 A p-n junction diode is two-terminal or two-

electrode device, which allows the electric current
in only one direction while blocks the electric
current in opposite or reverse direction.
 Thep-n junction diode is made from the materials
such as silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide.
For designing the diodes, silicon is more preferred
over germanium. The p-n junction diodes made
from silicon works at higher temperature when
compared with the p-n junction diodes made from
Solid State Rectifier in X-ray
Tube
 Advantages over diode values

1. They have longer life

2. They need no filament
3. They are more roust
4. They are small in size about thickness of finger
while a vacuum diode have the thickness of a
forearm.
5. B/c of the smaller size the high tension generator
circuit can be enclosed in a smaller space and this
provides equipment which is lighter.
 Con…
6. Absence of filament heating for valves
means there is less heat in the tank enclosing
the rectifiers and the high tension
transformer. This is the further reason why
the tank can be smaller for it is not necessary
to give it such a dimension as would enable
it to dissipate heat to the surrounding.
 In today’s X-ray equipment solid state
rectifier have replaced vacuum diodes in a
high tension circuits.
 Selenium Rectifiers
 A single barrier layer (P – N junction) of selenium rectifier
can with stand an inverse voltage which is only a few tens of
volts but many junction can be used to withstand the high
inverse voltage in x-ray tube.
 Selenium rectifiers must not be worked a too high a
temperature, the maximum being 88 c

Silicon Rectifiers
 Are more recent development
 Advantages over selenium rectifiers are;-
1. Lower voltage drop.
2. Very high resistance to reverse current
 Con…
3. The ability to withstand a higher
inverse voltage, so a single barrier layer
of silicon rectifier can with stand some
hundreds of volt.
4. Ability to work at high temperature
5. They are also smaller in size than
selenium rectifier so they provide little
space for the mobile x-ray units.
Two Types of Rectifiers:
Half wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier
 Half wave rectifier
 As the name suggests, the half wave rectifier is a
type of rectifier which converts half of the AC
input signal (positive half cycle) into pulsating
DC output signal and the remaining half signal
(negative half cycle) is blocked or lost. In half
wave rectifier circuit, we use only a single diode.
 A half wave rectifier is a type which allows only
half cycle (either positive half cycle or negative
half cycle) of the input AC signal while the
another half cycle is blocked.
 Con…

If the positive half cycle is allowed

then the negative half cycle is
blocked. Similarly, if the negative
half cycle is allowed then the
positive half cycle is blocked.
However, a half wave rectifier will
not allow both positive and negative
half cycles at the same time.
 Con…
The half wave rectifier is the simplest
form of the rectifier. We use only a
single diode to construct the half wave
rectifier.
The half wave rectifier is made up of
an AC source, transformer (step-
down), diode, and resistor (load). The
diode is placed between the
transformer and resistor (load).
 Con…
Advantages of half wave rectifier
We use very few components to
construct the half wave rectifier. So
the cost is very low.
Easy to construct
No back floe of electrons
 Con…
Disadvantages of half wave rectifier
Power loss
The half wave rectifier either allows the
positive half cycle or negative half cycle.
So the remaining half cycle is wasted.
Approximately half of the applied voltage
is wasted in half wave rectifier.
Pulsating direct current
Produces low output voltage.
 Full wave rectifier
The full wave rectifier is a type of rectifier
which converts the full AC input signal
(positive half cycle and negative half
cycle) to pulsating DC output signal.
Unlike the half wave rectifier, the input
signal is not wasted in full wave rectifier.
The efficiency of full wave rectifier is high
as compared to the half wave rectifier.
 Advantages of full wave
rectifier
 High rectifier efficiency
Full wave rectifier has high rectifier efficiency than the half
wave rectifier. That means the full wave rectifier converts
AC to DC more efficiently than the half wave rectifier.
 Low power loss
In a half wave rectifier, only half cycle (positive or negative
half cycle) is allowed and the remaining half cycle is
blocked. As a result, more than half of the voltage is
wasted. But in full wave rectifier, both half cycles
(positive and negative half cycles) are allowed at the
same time. So no signal is wasted in a full wave rectifier.
 Con…
Low ripples
The output DC signal in full wave rectifier has
fewer ripples than the half wave rectifier .
Disadvantages of full wave rectifier
 High cost
The center tapped transformers are expensive
and occupy a large space
Safety rules
All movable x-ray equipment should be
checked regularly often by an electrician
The imaging personnel should report at
once if there is damage or defect
No put plugs into or pull plugs out of
sockets which are on the ON position
Cables and plugs should be treated as if
they were patients
Thank You!!!