T.O. 33B-1-16-96.2.3 EffectsOfVoltageandAmperageonX-RayProduction.6.2.3.1 EffectOfVoltage.In different equipment, different methods are used to accelerate the electrons. In the smaller X-ray generators, up toand including two million volt units, acceleration is accomplished with transformers to step up the incoming power linevoltage and apply it between the anode and the cathode of the X-ray tube. Since the X-ray generators operate at veryhigh voltages, the unit kilovolt (kV) is used to designate one thousand volts. As the kilovoltage (the potential thatcauses the electrons to accelerate) is changed, the kinetic energy of the moving electrons is changed, altering the energyof the resulting X-radiation. As the kilovoltage is increased, the efficiency of converting the electrical energy into X-rays is increased. Therefore, when kilovoltage is changed, the penetrating capability of the generated radiation ischanged, and the quality of radiation is altered due to the efficiency of electrical energy converted into X-rays.Selecting the proper kilovoltage is very important in industrial radiographic applications.6.2.3.2 EffectOfAmperage.Amperage is a measure of the amount of electrical current applied to the filament. It is also a direct measurement ofthe number of free electrons available in the X-ray tube and is independent of variations in kilovoltage. Thus thequantity of X-radiation is in direct relation to the filament current. Typically, the amount of current is small, so theunit milliampere (mA), milliamp for short, is used to designate one one-thousandth of an ampere. The effect ofmilliamp changes on the radiation output is shown in Figure 6-7.Figure 6-7. Effect Of Filament Current on Radiation Quantity.
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