X-ray source and method for manufacturing an X-ray source
An X-ray source ( 10 ) for generating X-rays ( 11 ) is provided. The X-ray source ( 10 ) comprises an emitter arrangement ( 12 ) for generating electrons or for generating X-rays, at least one feedthrough ( 38 ) for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement ( 12 ), and an insulator ( 20 ) configured for isolating an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough ( 38 ) from a ground potential. Therein, the at least one feedthrough ( 38 ) extends at least partly through the insulator ( 20 ), and at least a part of the insulator ( 20 ) is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement ( 12 ). Further, the insulator ( 20 ) comprises at least one cooling channel ( 28 ) formed completely in an interior volume ( 25 ) of the insulator ( 20 ) and configured to dissipate heat from the emitter arrangement ( 12 ), wherein a distance ( 29 ) between an outer surface ( 26 ) of the insulator ( 20 ) and the cooling channel ( 28 ) is at least as large as half of a thickness ( 27 ) of the cooling channel ( 20 ).
1. An X-ray source, comprising:
an emitter arrangement for generating X-rays;
at least one feedthrough for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement; and
an insulator configured to isolate an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough from a ground potential;
wherein the at least one feedthrough extends at least partly through the insulator;
wherein at least a part of the insulator is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement;
wherein the insulator comprises at least one cooling channel formed completely in an interior volume of the insulator and configured to dissipate heat from the emitter arrangement;
wherein a distance between an outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel is at least as large as half of a thickness of the cooling channel;
wherein the cooling channel at least partly surrounds the feedthrough along a circumferential direction of the insulator;
wherein the distance between the outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel is constant along the circumferential direction; and
wherein the distance between the cooling channel and the outer surface of the insulator is constant along a longitudinal extension direction of the cooling channel.
2. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein the distance between the outer surface and the cooling channel is a smallest distance between the outer surface and the cooling channel measured parallel to a surface normal vector of the outer surface; and
wherein the thickness of the cooling channel is measured parallel to the surface normal vector of the outer surface.
3. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein a cross-section of the cooling channel is rounded; and/or
wherein the thickness of the cooling channel is a diameter of the cooling channel.
4. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cooling channel is configured to guide a coolant such that heat from the emitter arrangement is dissipated based on convection cooling via the coolant; and/or wherein the cooling channel comprises a fluid coolant.
5. The X-ray source according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an inlet fluidly coupled to the cooling channel and configured to supply a coolant to the cooling channel; and/or
an outlet fluidly coupled to the cooling channel and configured for purging a coolant from the cooling channel.
6. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least a part of the insulator is manufactured by sintering, gluing and/or three-dimensional printing.
7. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein the insulator is a single homogenous block of isotropic material; and/or
wherein the insulator comprises ceramics material and/or alumina.
8. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein the insulator comprises a first side facing the emitter arrangement and a second side opposite to the first side;
wherein the insulator comprises a first ceramics material at the first side and a second ceramics material at the second side; and
wherein the first material and the second material differ from each other in at least one of a chemical composition, a density and an electrical conductivity.
9. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least a part of a surface of the cooling channel is metallized; and/or
wherein the cooling channel is comprised of at least one tube formed in the interior volume of the insulator.
10. The X-ray source according to claim 1 ,
wherein the emitter arrangement comprises at least a part of at least one of an anode, a cathode, a deflection plate, a deflection coil, a rotor drive, and an electron beam gun.
11. The X-ray source according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an enclosure at least partly enclosing the emitter arrangement;
wherein the insulator is arranged on a side of the enclosure; and
wherein at least a part of the insulator and the enclosure form a vacuum compartment, in which the emitter arrangement is arranged.
12. An X-ray imaging system, comprising:
an X-ray source, comprising:
an emitter arrangement for generating X-rays;
at least one feedthrough for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement; and
an insulator configured to isolate an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough from a ground potential;
wherein the at least one feedthrough extends at least partly through the insulator;
wherein at least a part of the insulator is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement;
wherein the insulator comprises at least one cooling channel formed completely in an interior volume of the insulator and configured to dissipate heat from the emitter arrangement;
wherein a distance between an outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel is at least as large as half of a thickness of the cooling channel;
wherein the cooling channel at least partly surrounds the feedthrough along a circumferential direction of the insulator;
wherein the distance between the outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel is constant along the circumferential direction; and
wherein the distance between the cooling channel and the outer surface of the insulator is constant along a longitudinal extension direction of the cooling channel; and
an X-ray detector for detecting the X-rays.
13. A method for manufacturing an X-ray source, comprising:
providing an emitter arrangement for emitting electrons or X-rays;
providing at least one feedthrough for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement;
providing an insulator configured to isolate an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough from a ground potential;
forming at least one cooling channel in an interior volume of the insulator, such that the cooling channel is completely arranged in the interior volume of the insulator; and
arranging the insulator on a side of the emitter arrangement, such that at least a part of the insulator is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement;
wherein the cooling channel is formed at a distance between an outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel, the distance being at least as large as half of a thickness of the cooling channel;
wherein the cooling channel at least partly surrounds the feedthrough along a circumferential direction of the insulator;
wherein the distance between the outer surface of the insulator and the cooling channel is constant along the circumferential direction; and
wherein the distance between the cooling channel and the outer surface of the insulator is constant along a longitudinal extension direction of the cooling channel.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein at least a part of the insulator and the cooling channel are formed by three-dimensional printing, sintering and/or gluing.