X-ray Tube Arc Preventation by Stabilization of Voltage in a Dual Energy CT Scanner: A Review Study

For a dual energy CT scanner, rapid switching between two voltage levels is essential for obtaining critical diagnosis information. In order to obtain the best quality diagnosis images, X-ray tubes are operated at maximum power. Under such demand, X-ray tubes are expected to arc. Arc may indicates the end of life expectancy for the tube. Arcing is prone to occur when input potential is increased rapidly. This paper include the improvement of an arc suppressor that has been already patented by Furbee and others. An arc suppressor includes two parallel quadrant assemblies at which one quadrant includes an inductive coil used to store excessive energy during arc event, and later the same energy is dissipated using a high voltage diode. Another method was used which included stabilizing voltage during the full operation of the tube by implementing a PI controller to regulate the voltage and to provide a steady output signal. The system’s capability was tested under three voltage conditions, ranging from normal to high transient potential. Arc suppression and voltage stabilization were very efficient when operating at high kV level rating up to almost 99.9S%. However, the efficiency was slightly decreased to 99.95%, during normal operation and the system might experience a small voltage-overshoot during excessive transient voltages The X-ray tube voltage regulator was simulated and tested using MATLAB Simulink software.