THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF

AN X-RAY UNIT
PROVISION OF A STABLE VOLTAGE
INPUT FOR THE X-RAY UNIT
• The generation of a consistence quality and quantity of
X-ray radiation of X-ray units every time the same
exposure factors are selected is important
• This is because it reduces the number of unsatisfactory
radiographs due to incorrect exposure , this has the
following advantages:
a) Reduces unjustifiable radiation dose to the patient
b) Reduces cost to the hospital
c) Reduces time wasted
 Cont…
• There are many factors which cause an incorrect output . Of
great importance is the variation in main voltage supplier to the
unit.
• If this source of variation can be overcome , there is at least a
stable base-line on which the unit can function.
• To achieve this stable base-line it is essential that pre-installation
checks are made on mains supply to ensure that the electrical
provisions reaches the manufacture’s specification.
• Assuming the normal mains voltage to the units fulfils the
manufacturer’s requirements , there will still be variation in the
input voltage to the unit . These voltage variation arises as a
result of the following.
i) Change in voltage from the main supply
ii) Varying demands by other equipment drawing from the same
supply.
Cont…
iii) Different load current drawn by the X-ray tube during
exposure
iv) The location of a mobile unit- different supply outlets
will have different line(supply cable) impedance
• Voltage variation is normally divided into three types
based on the time span which changes occurs:
a) Permanent voltage variation from the baseline due to the
impedance of the line at the outlet.
b) Variation which lasts for considerable part of the day.
c) Rapid changes lasting for only short time due to sudden
alteration in the load on the supply or sudden changes at
the generator.
Cont…
• Permanent voltage variation from the baseline due to
impedance of the base line at the outlet point.
-This variation is taken care by employing a line resistance
compensator
- The purpose of this unit is to bring the total line resistance
value at the input point to a value specified by the
manufacturer
- With the total line resistance fixed at this value ,it is simple to
compensate for the voltage drop caused by the current
drawn when the tube load is supplied.
• There are two types of line resistance compensators
a) Line resistance compensator for a permanent fixed unit
b) Variable line resistance compensator for a mobile unit
(Padding resistor)
Cont…
LINE RESISTANCE FOR PERMANENT FIXED UNIT
• This is generally a simple variable resistors which is connected
in series with the X-ray circuit. Its value is adjusted until it
modifies the outlet voltage to baseline voltage. Once its value
is set during installation of the unit, there is no need for further
adjustments
• This compensation is placed within the unit as there is no need
for further access.
THE VARIABLE LINE RESISTANCE COMPENSATOR FOR
MOBILE UNIT(PADDING RESISTOR)
• Due to varying value of line resistance at different outlet
points in a hospital where mobile X-ray units are often
connected, mobile units have a kind of a line resistance
compensator which tries to allow adjustments that will
Cont….
• Ideally each outlet points in the hospital should have its
line resistance measured and made known.
• A mobile unit ( if it’s the type that has this facility)
provides for a wide selection of resistance value, which
can be selected on the control panel to take care of the
variation.
• The selection may be either a rotating knob with
connecting studs or series of push buttons

AUTOTRANSFORMER
• After passing through the mains isolator and after
correction by the line resistance compensator, the main
voltage is connected to the input side of the X-ray unit’s
 Cont…
• This unit can be safely housed in the X-ray generator’s control unit as
its voltage is no greater than the mains supply.
DESIGN OF AN AUTOTRANSFORMER
• The autotransformer operates on the principle of self induction .
• It has one winding is formed from shellac coating copper wire, which
has comparatively large rectangular cross section. In an auto
transformer, one single winding is used as primary winding as well as
secondary winding
• The flat sides of the tape like wire facilitates the connection of
tapping(Conductors) to many individual turns.
• In some modern units a small area on the top of the coil is cleared of
the insulating shellac so that the copper is exposed and can connect
with a fine carbon brush.This can be motor driven to a particular turn
where electrical connection can be made,thus providing an alternative
Cont…
of connection to the numerous tapping connections.
• The tappings are taken to the terminals where they act as a
step up or step down transformer.
• The passing of current through the turns between the input
tappings will induce a flow of magnetic flux around the core
• This magnetic flux will link with all the turns forming the
coil.
FUNCTION OF THE AUTOTRANSFORMER
a) Compensate for changes in the mains voltage
b) Provision of a voltage for the tube filament circuit
c) Provision of primary voltage for the high tension
transformer which can be altered to allow a change in the
X-ray beam quality
Cont..
d) Provision of kVp meter compensator to make a pre
reading kVp meter read the on load value.
e) Provision of suitable voltage for the subsidiary circuits
Cont…
a) Compensate for changes in the main voltage
• It should be born in mind of the X-ray unit operator that
any point voltage variations from the base-line affect
the X-ray tube output and thereby affecting quality and
quantity of the beam
• The scenario is unfortunate as it results in production of
poor radiographs
• The variation also affect subsidiary circuit of the beam
• For these reason all variations over which the operator
has control must be corrected before an exposure is
made.
• The following are effects that may result from the input
variations:
Cont…
a) Increased or decreased film density due to too much or too
little X-ray photos generated at target.
b) Increased or decreased subject penetration
Variation from the baseline mains voltage which are
comparatively long lived and occurs between X-ray exposure.
Can be corrected by the autotransformer through its main
voltage compensator(when the machine is idle).
• There are two types of main voltage compensator used in X-
ray unit.
a) Manual mains voltage compensator
b) Automatic mains voltage compensator
Whatever type of compensator a unit uses: there are two
Cont…
• First there should be away of monitoring to note the
changes and secondary the actual corrections of the
variation
ii. Manual main voltage compensator
As the name suggests , this is components relies on the
action of the operator.
Monitoring
The operator checks on the voltmeter for the changes
from the normal
Cont…
• The meter does not have figures on it but just a line
showing input voltage.
• The operator must continually check this meter and make
necessary compensation up until time of ‘prep’
Correction
Correction is achieved by turning a rotating knob selector
which makes connections through one of the stud terminal
positioned around the border of the selector . The terminal
receives conductors from the tapped turns of the
autotransformer. This component is located on the control
panel of the X-ray unit.
Cont…
• Automatic main voltage compensator
Monitoring
In this unit the monitoring process is done by voltage
sensing device which samples the incoming voltage and
compares the sample with an accurate reference voltage
Cont…
• The sample voltage is drawn from the autotransformer.
Correction
If the sensing device finds a discrepancy between the
sample voltage and the reference voltage,the
compensating unit will automatically direct a motor to
drive a carbon brush along the surface of the
autotransformer winding to make contact with a
particular turn which will give the correct turns ratio.
• The sensing-correction process is contiuous,ensuring
that the mains voltage variation is connected at once
and continuing right up to the “prepare” before
exposure.
Cont…
b) Provision of a voltage for the tube filament circuit
• The supply for the X-ray tube filament circuit is provided by
connecting the circuit between two tappings from the
autotransformer.
• The number of turns between the tappings is determined by value of
voltage required and volts per turn value.
c) Provision of a supply for the primary winding of the HT transformer
and methods of varying
• In radiography,it is necessary to vary the quality of X-ray beam to
provide optimum penetration of the subject
• The quality of the beam depends upon the kilovoltage across the X-
ray tube.
Cont…
• The voltage is provided by the secondary winding of the HT
transformer whose primary voltage is obtained from the
autotransformer. Due to the needs to vary the kilovoltage .
A means of varying the supply to the primary winding is
arranged by connecting to the autotransformer through a
device ,known as kVp selector. This allows a connection to
be made to any one series of tappings on the
autotransformer. When the selector is operated the number
of turns between the points of connection ,the tappings is
altered ,providing a different voltage to the primary
winding of the HT transformer,which is reflected in the
secondary voltage. In this way it is possible for the operator
to select a suitable kilovoltage to generate X-ray which will
penetrate the organs under examination
 cont….
d) Provision of a voltage for the tube filament circuit
• The supply of the X-ray tube filament circuit is obtained from
two tappings connected from autotransformer.
• The numbers of turns between the tappings is determined by
the value required and volts per turn value.
e)Provision of a supply for primary winding of the HT
transformer and method of varying its vaue.
• The high tension transformer gets its primary supply from
the output of the autotransformer through two tappings, one
fixed and other variable to enable variations to be made on
the supply to the supply to the primary windings of the high
tension transformer.
• The varying of the voltage is necessary because different
Cont…
• Due to the needs to vary the kilovoltage,a means of
varying the supply to the primary winding is arranged
by connecting to the autotransformer through a device
known as kVp selector
• The kVp selector is placed on one end(beginning ) of the
conductor between high tension transformer and
autotransformer
• Between the autotransformer and kVp selector are a
number of tappings through which the selector can be
connected to the autotransformer at will.
• Most units allows for major and minor steps to be made
on selecting the kVp values.
• The selected kVp values is displayed on pre-reading
voltmeter
Cont…
• The motor driver selector uses a digital display
• The meter shows the actual values of voltage that will be
used during an exposure it pre-reading the kVp values
hence the name prereading kilometer
e) Provision of a kV meter compensator
• Note that there is discrepancy between the voltage before
the exposure and that actually applied during the exposure
• Voltage that governs the quality of the X-ray beam is that
which is applied across the tube during exposure and not
the one shown before exposure.The discrepancy is caused
by the voltage drop which occurs when the X-ray tube
conducts
• The magnitude of the discrepancy varies with change in the
tube current( m A) selected
Cont…
• Therefore a kVp meter compensator is provided to make
the necessary correction to the reading so that although
the meter registers before the exposure,the value
displayed is what it will be during the exposure.
• First select m A then kVp
f) Provision of a suitable voltage for many subsidiary
When the manufacturer has a calculated the voltage
needed to operate one of the subsidiary circuit,stable
voltage .This value is obtained by connecting the circuit
to the tapping
Cont…
• The autotransformer supplies output to 3 main circuits of the X-ray
circuit:
1) The filament circuit
2) The high tension circuit
3) Subsidiary circuit
THE X-RAY TUBE FILAMENT CIRCUIT
• The function of the filament circuit to heat the filament
to very exact temperature so that the number of
electrons freed by thermionic emission from the
filament is just right to give precisely the tube current
selected by the radiographer generating the required
quantity of X-ray radiation.
• To fulfil this function the X-ray tube filament circuit is
composed of the following main components
i. Voltage filament stabilizer
ii. Space charge compensator
iii. m A selector
iv. Filament transformer
 FROM AUTOTRANSFORMER

Voltage stabiliser
kV selector

• Diagram
space charge
compensator
m A selector
kV meter
compensator
from
Filament transformer HTT
Cont…
VOLTAGE STABILISER
• Although the voltage compensator corrects variation in
the autotransformer, it cannot be used to correct
changes that take place during exposure.
• There are 2 mains functions of voltage stabilizer
a) To correct any small change occurring during the
radiographic exposure from normal value of the
voltage supply to the filament circuit.
b) To compensate for any change in mains frequency by
adjusting the voltage supply to filament
Modern X-ray equipment use Electronic voltage
stabilizer.It is connected to filament circuit immediately
after the supply for the circuit is obtained from the
autotransformer and it operate
Cont…
Automatically.

2. SPACE CHARGE COMPENSATOR

• In normal circumstances,the magnitude electrons
attracted to the X-ray tube target working under tube
saturation should be directly proportional to the
magnitude of the potential difference across the tube.
• A space charge compensator ensures that the operator
of the X-ray tube machines can select Kvp and m A
values that are independence of each other.
Cont…
A high k V can be selected along with a low m A and vice
versa
3. SELECTOR m A
• This stands for the current that is used to heat the filament
to produce electrons through thermionic emissions .
• The quantity of X-ray depends on the emitted electrons
• So there is a need to alter the number of electrons inorder
to give the required X-ray for examination
• The emitted electrons can be altered by changing the
temperature that heats the tube filaments.
• The only way of achieving this is altering the voltage supply
to the filament,since the resistance in the filament is fixed
Cont…
• The method of altering the voltage is to drop some of the
filament circuit voltage through a resistor( as a range of m A is
needed)
• There must be bank of resistors of different values providing
the appropriate adjust to the voltage to give the desired m A.
• A rotating selector or push button is used to select particular
resistor.
FILAMENT TRANSFORMER
• This is step down transformer
• It steps down currents in the filaments circuits to a value
around 4-5 A.
• This value of current is provided by transformer whose ratio is
16:11,thus changing the filament voltage from 240v to 8-12v
Cont…
• This voltage is enough to raise the temperature of the filament helix
to required value to emit electrons

THE END