High Voltage

Generator
Prepared by: Timothy John D. Matoy
Reference: Radiologic Science for
Technologist: Physics, Biology and
Protection 9th Edition by Stewart C.
Bushong
Objectives
› To define the function of a high-voltage
generator in an x-ray imaging system.
› To describe the three primary parts of a high
voltage generator.
› To define rectification.
› To differentiate the types of rectification.
› To define voltage ripple.
› To compute for the power rating of each type
of high-voltage generator.
› To be able to illustrate an x-ray circuit.
High-Voltage Generator
›The high-voltage generator of
an x-ray machine is responsible
for converting the low voltage
from the electric power
company into a kilovoltage of
proper waveform.
High-voltage generator
contains the following three
primary parts.:

›High-voltage transformer
›Filament transformer
›rectifiers
High Voltage-transformer
›Isa step-up transformer. The
secondary voltage is greater than
the primary voltage because the
number of secondary windings is
greater than the number of primary
windings.
 Turns ratio
›The ratio of the
number of
secondary
windings to the
number of primary
windings.
Sample problem
›The turns ratio of a high-
voltage transformer is 700:1,
and the supply voltage is
peaked at 120 volts. What is
the secondary voltage
supplied to the x-ray tube?
Rectification
›Is the process of
converting alternating
voltage to direct voltage
and therefor alternating
current to direct current.
Valve-tubes
Self-rectification
› Property of an x-ray tube which
means that it acts as a valve
permitting the flow of current in
only one direction, from the
cathode to the anode.

(www.answers.com/topic/rectification)
Half-wave rectification
› Represents condition in which the voltage
is not allowed to swing negatively during
the negative half of its cycle.

› Contain zero, one, or two diode

› X-ray
output is pulsating, with 60 x-ray
pulses per second
Half-wave rectification
Full-wave rectification
› In
a full-wave rectified circuit the negative
half cycle corresponding to the inverse
voltage is reversed so that a positive
voltage is always directed across the x-ray
tube.

› Contains at least 4 diodes

› X-ray output – 120 x-ray pulses per second.

Full-wave rectification
Single-Phase Power
›Resultsin pulsating x-ray beam
›Alternate swing from zero to
maximum potential 120 times
per second
›Low energy, low penetrability,
low diagnostic value
Three-Phase Power
› Generatesthree simultaneous
voltage waveforms out of step with
one another.

› Voltageacross x-ray tube is nearly

constant and never drops to zero
during exposure.

› Requires additional size and cost

Three-Phase Power
High-Frequency Generator
›Can be place in the x-ray tube
housing
›Produce nearly constant
potential
›Improves image quality
›Lower patient dose
Inverter Circuits
› Arehigh speed switches that convert
DC into a series of square pulses.
Capacitor Discharge
Generator
› Uses nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery
Voltage Ripple
› Is the variation in peak voltage waveform.
Single-phase generator
› 100% voltage ripple
› The voltage varies from zero to its
maximum value
Three-phase generator
› 3-phased, 6 pulse generator = 13 %
voltage ripple

› 3-phased, 12-pulse generator = 4%

voltage ripple
High-Frequency generator
› Less than 3% voltage ripple
Power Rating

Power = current x potential

Watts = Amperes x volts

Maximum available power
›When specifying high-voltage
generators, the industry
standard is to use the maximum
tube current(mA) possible at
100 kVp for an exposure of 100
ms.
Sample problem
›When a low-voltage ripple
system is energized at 100
kVp, 100 milliseconds, the
maximum tube current is 800
mA. What is the power rating?
3-phase generator and high
frequency

Power Rating (kW) = mA x kVp

1000
 Single-phase generator

Power Rating (kW) = (0.7) mA x kVp

1000
Sample problem:
›A radiographic single-phased
unit installed in a private
office has a maximum
capacity of 100 ms of 120 kVp
and 500 mA. What is its power
rating?
X-ray Circuit