THE TRANSITION FROM

GAMMA TO PORTABLE

X-RAY TECHNOLOGY: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

NDT in Canada Conference

June 16, 2015

Rebecca Rudolph

SALES MANAGER IXP

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NDT in Canada 2015 Conference, June 15-17, 2015, Edmonton, AB (Canada) - www.ndt.net/app.NDTCanada2015

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

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Basics of X-Ray: History and Trends

How X-rays are produced

Pros and Cons of Various Technologies

Transitioning to Digital: Applications and

Images

Gamma vs. X-ray: ROI

Conclusions

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

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APPLICATIONS OF X-RAY SOURCES

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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

TIMELINE

PORTABLE X-RAY – THE EVOLUTION

First portable X-ray unit Replaces oil with gas insulation Change form Glass tubes to Metal Ceramic Inserts Change from Half-wave to Constant Potential Energy Low weight and compact sized portable X-ray system for in-field X-ray

inspection at 160 kV to 300 kV Redesign for future proof, robust, and reliable performance

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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.

SIGNIFICANT

SHORTER EXPOSURE

TIME

Do

se r

ate

Non constant potential energy

High voltage High voltage

Constant potential energy

Do

se r

ate

• Tube made of glass or metal and a very good vacuum (

- 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

10

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

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MXR-451

Spot = 2.5 (900W)

MXR-451HP/11

Spot = 0.4 (700W)

TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X-RAYS

Vacuum Chamber

Connector

Cathode Anode

Cooling Head

Exit Window

Radiation Protection Housing

Target

Filament

Ceramic

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THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM

• 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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THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM

• Improved focal spots for better images with digital imaging media

• Lower weight

• Faster exposure times

• Less roped off area, smaller footprint

• Easily transported across borders

EASE OF USE

(15 minutes from weld

available to results)

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THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM

• Higher, Variable X-ray power – Easily adjusted

• Same power on the first to last day on the job

• Higher image quality

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 PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM

• More efficient cooling - longer exposures at full power Less

leakage radiation and improved safety features

• Work with inverters, generators, 85 - 220 volts

FLEXIBILITY IN

CHALLENGING

ENVIRONMENTS

16” pipe scan

Contrast adjusted and

artifact magnified

16” Pipe Scan

Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified

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THE MODERN 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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GAMMA

• The size and weight of a gamma camera make it easy

to transport to remote locations

• No power required

• Simple to “crank out” and “crank in”. Virtually, no

operating instructions needed. Nothing to enter and

no values to program.

PORTABILITY

POWER

EASE OF USE

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GAMMA

• The small diameter source guide tube can be placed

into awkward, tight access positions that an x-ray tube

could never fit.

• Very few parts to break down and no electrical parts at

all. Most servicing and maintenance can be done by

the operator in the field.

POSITIONING

EASE OF

MAINTENTANCE

GAMMA (L)

vs.

XRAY (R)

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GAMMA VS X-RAY

COST ANALYSIS

Additional factors for gamma:

Availability - when reactor shuts down for maintenance backlogs can grow

Exposure allowance - 2 Rems per year though regulations are getting tighter

Accidents - costs in lost time, can be very risky to clean up

Disposal and Storage Costs – while incremental, can be costly

XRAY GAMMA

Initial Startup 39,000 / tube 5,000 / license

Camera no 9,000-15,000

Camera maintenance no 465 +

Annual Inspection no 100 +

Source (Ir192) no 2,500 x 3 refills

Average Purchase Cycle 10 Yrs 1 Yr

Total Cost of Ownership per Year 39,000 22,000 – 29,565

Total Cost of Ownership over 5 Yrs 39,000 54,325 – 82,825

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• According to the Rad Pro

Calculator, a 100 Curie Ir192

Source produces 50 Rem/hour at

1 meter distance.

• At 200kV a COMET PXS 300kV

900 Watt Portable X-Ray Tube

produces 5,000 Rem/hour, almost

100 times more output than the

gamma source.

• This means shorter exposure

times

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LOOKING FORWARD

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• Same power - first to last day on the job

• Plays well with Digital Imaging

better focal spots, better images

• Less paper work

• Often has faster exposure times

• Less roped off area, smaller footprint

• Works with many power sources

Inverters, Generators, 85-220 volts

• Easy to transport across borders

THE SMART EVO SERIES 26 26

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR

ATTENTION

28-05-2015