High-Voltage Power Supply for X-ray Control of the Structure of Materials

Abstract

A high-voltage power supply, along with an X-ray tube, is one of the main components of X-ray machines widely used in studying the structure of materials, estimating the internal structure of components and mechanisms, and nondestructive testing of technological processes. In monoblock devices, an X-ray tube and power supply are located in a common housing, while in cable-type setups, an X-ray emitter with the tube and a power supply are connected by a high-voltage cable. In this study, the results of creation of a stabilized high-voltage power supply for X-ray tubes as a part of a cable-type machine are reported. The electric circuits and design of the power supply based on a full-bridge voltage inverter built on power bipolar transistors are developed. The output voltage and power of the source are adjusted through the pulse width modulation of the rectified mains voltage applied to the primary winding of a high-voltage transformer. The use of a solid-state compound with increased thermal conductivity has made it possible to limit the design to forced air cooling of the source and place it within the Rack Mount standard dimensions (4U form factor). The experience of the power supply operation at a large industrial enterprise has shown that its electrical and dimensional parameters provide the possibility of successful use in X-ray machines for structure control of materials.