THE X-RAY ADVANTAGE Pros and cons X-ray and Gamma NDTMA - February 12, 2015 NILS HASE Sales Manager IXT 1
THE COMET GROUP COMET, AG is a 65 year- old Swiss company and a leading supplier of advanced system and component solubons based on x- ray, electron beam, and RF technologies Provider of X- ray/eb source technology supporbng customer screening, inspecbon, & material processing requirements Worldwide representabon, with global operabons supporbng OEMs on a global basis in the US, Europe, and China, Full Service Repair Center in North America Strategy underpinned by product innovabon, staff experbse and A+ customer experiences 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 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 3
APPLICATIONS OF X-RAY SOURCES Non Destruc9ve Tes9ng Security Wheel inspecbon Pipeline inspecbon Engine block inspecbon Luggage inspecbon Truck inspecbon InspecBon of parked Cars Food Inspec9on Thickness Gauging e- beam new Jelly inspecbon Fish bones inspecbon Hot steel plate Cold steel plate SterilizaBon of Food Packaging SterilizaBon of Pharma Packaging Curing of Inks 4
PORTABLE X-RAY THE EVOLUTION TIMELINE First portable X- ray unit 1954 Replaces oil with gas insula9on Change form Glass tubes to Metal Ceramic Inserts Change from Half- wave to Constant Poten9al Energy Low weight and compact sized portable X- ray system for in- field X- ray inspec9on at 160 kv to 300 kv Redesign for future proof, robust, and reliable performance 2015 5
Major steps in the evolution From oil filled to gas- filled tube heads MODEL YEAR WEIGHT 300kV Portable X- ray Tube Head 1962 130kg 300kV Portable X- ray Tube Head 2015 29kg From glass tubes to Metal Ceramic X-ray inserts Improved reliability, X-ray performance and robustness
CONSTANT POTENTIAL ENERGY SIGNIFICANT SHORTER EXPOSURE TIME From half wave to constant potential high voltage technology. Non constant potential energy Constant potential energy Dose rate Dose rate High voltage High voltage 7
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X- RAYS KEY COMPONENTS - Cathode Vacuum + Anode Filament High Voltage (e.g. 160 kv) Tube made of glass or metal and a very good vacuum (<10-6 mbar 10-8 mbar ) Opposing Cathode (- ) and Anode (+) High- voltage Iss applied across the cathode and anode 8
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X- RAYS FOCAL SPOT - Cathode Focal Spot Vacuum + Anode Filament 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 9
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X- RAYS X- RAY GENERATION - Cathode Focal Spot Vacuum e - e - e - e - e - e - + Anode Filament High Voltage (e.g. 160 kv) Filament (W) is heated above 2000 C causing thermionic emission of electrons Electrical field accelerates the electrons toward the anode. ImpacBng electrons create Brems- and/or CharacterisBc radiabon Primary output is Thermal Energy (98-99%), X- Ray Energy is only 1-2% 10
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X- RAYS X- RAY GENERATION - Cathode Focal Spot Vacuum e - e - e - e - e - e - + Anode Filament High Voltage (e.g. 160 kv) Window The more electrons hihng the anode / the focal spot, the more X- Ray radiabon is created. Dose and intensity increase. The Anode (made of Tungsten / Tungsten alloy) gets hot and cooling is necessary (water, oil, air)! 11
TECHNICAL GENERATION OF X- RAYS X- RAY GENERATION - Cathode Focal Spot Coolant Vacuum e - e - e - e - e - e - + Anode Filament High Voltage (e.g. 160 kv) Window The more electrons hihng the anode / the focal spot, the more X- Ray radiabon is created. Dose and intensity increase. The Anode (made of Tungsten / Tungsten alloy) gets hot and cooling is necessary (water, oil, air)! 12
INFLUENCE OF TARGET AND FOCAL SPOT Enhanced resolution due to smaller focal spots: FOCAL SPOT SPECIFICS The bigger the spot the bigger the possible thermal load. The smaller the spot the higher the image sharpness. Small, Round & Uniform à Good Image Quality 13
INFLUENCE OF TARGET AND FOCAL SPOT FOCAL SPOT SPECIFICS Enhanced resolution due to smaller focal spots: MXR- 451 Spot = 2.5 (900W) MXR- 451HP/11 Spot = 0.4 (700W) 14
Technical genera9on of X- Rays a bit more realis9c Connector Ceramic Vacuum Chamber Cathode Anode Target RadiaBon ProtecBon Housing Filament Exit Window Cooling Head 2010 15
THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM 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 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) 16
THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM EASE OF USE (15 minutes from weld available to results) 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 17
THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM POWER RANGE AND AVAILABILITY 16 Pipe Scan 16 pipe scan Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified Higher, Variable X-ray power Easily adjusted Same power on the first to last day on the job Higher image quality 18
THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS 16 pipe scan 16 Pipe Scan Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified Contrast adjusted and artifact magnified More efficient cooling - longer exposures at full power Less leakage radiation and improved safety features Work with inverters, generators, 85-220 volts 19
THE MODERN PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM REDUCED DOWNTIME 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 20
GAMMA PORTABILITY POWER The size and weight of a gamma camera make it easy to transport to remote locations No power required EASE OF USE Simple to crank out and crank in. Virtually, no operating instructions needed. Nothing to enter and no values to program. 21
GAMMA POSITIONING The small diameter source guide tube can be placed into awkward, tight access positions that an x-ray tube could never fit. EASE OF MAINTENTANCE 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. GAMMA (L) vs. XRAY (R) 22
GAMMA VS X-RAY COST ANALYSIS XRAY GAMMA Ini9al Startup 39,000 / tube 5,000 / license Camera no 9,000-15,000 Camera maintenance no 465 + Annual Inspec9on 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 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 23
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 24
Conclusions What are the takeaways for X-Ray? Same power on the first to last day on the job Plays well with Digital Imaging, better focal spots, better images Less paper work Many times has faster exposure times (time is money) Less roped off area, smaller footprint Works with Inverters, Generators, 110 or 220 volts Easy to transport across boarders Great ROI 25
THE SMART EVO SERIES 26
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 2/17/2015