HEAT REMOVAL FROM HIGH POWER CT X-RAY TUBES USING HEAT BUFFER AND REFRIGERATION TECHNIQUES

摘要

A cooling oil circuit (D) circulates cooling oil over an x-ray tube (22) absorbing its waste heat. A refrigeration circuit (E) then cools the cooling oil. A heat buffer (52) absorbing peak heat loads from the cooling fluid when the x-ray tube (22) is generating x-rays. Valves (58, 60) regulate a relative amount of cooling oil entering the heat buffer (52) to increase heat transfer efficiency. The heat buffer (52) enables the system to handle peak heat loads with a smaller, more condensed refrigeration system (E), by absorbing heat during operation of the x-ray tube (22) and releasing heat between operations.