INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY SOURCES
Adelphi Technology supplies compact betatrons for nondestructive evaluation. These betatrons provide small, hand-carried sources to replace radioisotopes such as Ir192 or Co60 at a fraction the cost of linear accelerators.
Betatron x-ray sources provide better acuity, greater versatility, low lifetime costs, and safer and easier use than radioisotope sources, such as Ir192. Compared to linear accelerators, betatrons provide greater resolution in a smaller device at lower cost. The higher x-ray energy of a betatron provides much greater penetration than that available from 450KVp x-ray tube sources. Adelphi’s betatrons excel in applications where image resolution and ease of use are more important than maximum dose rate.
Adelphi Technology, Inc. currently supplies a compact 5 MeV betatron and is developing a hand-held 2 MeV betatron.
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Compact 5 MeV betatron
Adelphi’s 5 MeV betatron is an ideal instrument for industrial radiography that requires both penetration and low-exposure / background radiation from an easily portable source. Features of the betatron include:
- Excellent resolution (0.1 mm)
- Penetrates 3 inches or more of steel
- Compact and portable
- Tunable output radiation energy
- Easy to set up and use
- Extremely low background radiation
The ability to produce source spot sizes as small as 0.1 mm x 0.1 mm opens up high resolution applications that are impossible with a linear accelerator spot size typically of about 2 mm. Thus, for resolution limited applications, the betatron can be placed much closer to the object than linear accelerators, allowing it to provide the same or superior imaging time and quality but with a smaller system size, lower background radiation and lower cost.
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Edge enhanced image of 2" National Pipe Thread valve and 060 penetrameter taken with Adelphi's 5 MeV betatron.
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The energy of the betatron can be changed continuously from 2 to 5 MeV with the push of a button from a remote control. The maximum repetition rate is 600 Hz, though the betatron can be operated for very short periods at 900 Hz.
The measured radiation output at 5 MeV is given below.
| Repetition Rate (Hz) |
Dose (R/min @ 1 m)
with standard target
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Dose (R/min @ 1 m)
with 0.2 mm target
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200 |
2.2 |
0.65 |
400 |
2.5 |
Not tested |
600 |
4.6 |
2.3 |
900 |
7.0 |
Not Tested |
Radiator head mass: 95 Kg.
Power consumption: 3.7 KW or less at 600 Hz.
Hand-held 2 MeV betatron
Adelphi is developing a compact 2 MeV betatron. This device will have a radiator head weighing 50 lbs. or less with an output radiation dose on the order of 0.5 rad/minute at 1 meter. The source will be an ideal replacement of Ir192.
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