Systems and methods for cooling X-ray tubes and detectors
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9724059-B2
Publication Date
2017-08-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems that may be used for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. For example, an exemplary embodiment includes a system that can be used to cool an X-ray tube and detector with one chiller. As another example, an exemplary embodiment of a method includes using one chiller to cool an X-ray tube and detector.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to cooling a coolant outside an operating environment of an X-ray tube and an X-ray image detector using an active or passive chiller. A portion of the coolant is diverted to a direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly situated on an X-ray image detector plate, while the remaining undiverted coolant flows to the X-ray tube.
The diverted portion passes through the direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly so that the assembly is used for actively cooling and controlling the temperature of the X-ray image detector plate. Coolant returning from the X-ray tube and from the direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly is returned back to the active or passive chiller.
The cooling arrangement includes coolant flow paths with diverted and undiverted coolant streams, and the direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly is mounted on the detector cold plate with inlet and fluid channel features and thermoelectric modules in a foam structure.
Claims Coverage
The provided set includes four independent claims, directed to a method for cooling coolant with diversion through a DL TEA on an X-ray image detector plate, and to a system configured to implement the same diversion-based cooling architecture. Collectively, the independent claims define two key inventive concepts: diverting a portion of chiller-cooled coolant through a DL TEA on the detector plate for active detector temperature control, and circulating remaining undiverted coolant to the X-ray tube for tube cooling, with coolant returned to the same active or passive chiller.
Chiller-cooled coolant diverted through a detector-mounted DL TEA for active detector plate cooling
Diverting a portion of the coolant from the active or passive chiller to a direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly situated on an X-ray image detector plate such that the diverted portion of the coolant passes through the DL TEA, whereby the DL TEA is used for actively cooling and controlling temperature of the X-ray image detector plate.
Remaining undiverted coolant flows to the X-ray tube and returns to the same chiller
Allowing at least a portion of the remaining undiverted coolant to flow to the X-ray tube for cooling of the X-ray tube, and returning the coolant from the X-ray tube and the DL TEA back to the active or passive chiller.
A chiller-and-conduit system configured to divert coolant to the DL TEA while routing undiverted coolant to an X-ray tube
A system comprising an active or passive chiller for cooling a coolant; a direct to liquid thermoelectric assembly situated on an X-ray image detector plate; one or more conduits for circulating a coolant from the active or passive chiller to the DL TEA; one or more conduits for returning the coolant from the DL TEA back to the active or passive chiller; wherein the system is configured to divert a portion of the coolant from the active or passive chiller to the DL TEA and to circulate at least a portion of the remaining undiverted coolant from the active or passive chiller to an X-ray tube for cooling of the X-ray tube.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a cooling architecture that uses an active or passive chiller to cool a coolant outside the operating environment, diverts a portion of the cooled coolant through a DL TEA mounted on the X-ray image detector plate for actively cooling and controlling detector plate temperature, sends the remaining undiverted coolant to the X-ray tube for cooling, and returns the coolant from both the DL TEA and the X-ray tube back to the active or passive chiller.
Stated Advantages
Energy savings by cooling only where needed.
Improved temperature control of the X-ray image detector plate by actively cooling and controlling temperature using the DL TEA.
Documented Applications
Cooling an X-ray image detector plate by using a DL thermoelectric assembly mounted on an X-ray image detector plate while cooling the X-ray tube with remaining undiverted coolant in an X-ray system.
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