Photon Counting Detector Array for Radiographic Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiographic inspection methods for thick parts, particularly in nuclear reactors, face issues such as long exposure times, image quality degradation due to scattered radiation and hot spots, radiation dose exposure for operators, and the inability to verify source and film positioning in real time.
Innovation Solution
A radiographic inspection system utilizing a digital detector array with photon counting detectors that can detect photons across a wide energy range, allowing for adjustable energy thresholds to filter out scattered radiation and enable real-time image display, significantly reducing exposure time and radiation dose for operators, and allowing for immediate verification of source positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radiographic film is used for inspection, then image quality can be obtained, but exposure time becomes very long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical-based radiographic film system with a digital detector array that directly converts ionizing radiation into electrical signals. This substitution eliminates the need for long exposure times and chemical processing while maintaining image quality, as the digital detectors can rapidly count photons and generate images in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from analog film density to digital photon counting. By using photon-counting detectors that measure the number of incident photons directly, the system achieves both high image quality and fast exposure times, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
2Measurement precision
If radiographic film is used, then image can be captured, but scattered radiation and hot spots degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies energy threshold filtering at each detector element to selectively accept photons within a specific energy range. By setting appropriate energy thresholds, scattered radiation (which has lower energy) and hot spots (which have characteristic high energies) are rejected, while primary radiation photons are counted, thereby improving image quality through local energy-based discrimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces energy discrimination as an additional parameter for photon selection. By measuring the energy of each incident photon and comparing it against predetermined thresholds, the system can filter out scattered radiation and hot spot contributions, significantly improving image quality compared to conventional film methods that cannot distinguish photon energies.
3Productivity
If traditional radiographic inspection is performed, then inspection can be completed, but operators receive significant radiation dose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces film-based detection with digital photon-counting detectors that provide immediate electronic readout. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to handle and process physical films after exposure, allowing them to remain behind radiation barriers throughout the procedure, thereby significantly reducing radiation dose while maintaining inspection productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the radiographic image that can be viewed, analyzed, and stored electronically. This digital copying eliminates the need for operators to physically handle the radiation-sensitive medium after exposure, allowing remote viewing and analysis, thus reducing radiation exposure while maintaining full inspection capability.
4Ease of operation
If radiographic film is used, then exposure can be performed, but positioning verification is impossible before exposure completion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback by providing immediate electronic display of the radiographic image after photon counting. Operators can instantly verify source and detector positioning, image quality, and exposure adequacy, and make adjustments if needed, eliminating the delay and uncertainty associated with film-based methods where verification is only possible after complete exposure and processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves faster exposure times, improved image contrast, reduced radiation exposure for operators, and the ability to verify source positioning in real time, facilitating easier image sharing and storage compared to traditional film-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
each photon counting detector being arranged for detecting single photons, assessing an energy of the photon detected, comparing said energy with at least a first energy threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
The radiographic inspection assembly (1) comprises: - a source (3) generating ionizing radiation; - a digital detector array (5) comprising a plurality of photon counting detectors (7), each photon counting detector (7) being arranged for detecting single photons, assessing an energy of the photon detected, comparing said energy with at least a first energy threshold (E1), and incrementing a first photon counter when the energy assessed is higher than the first energy threshold (E1), the photon counting detector (7) being able to detect photons of any energy in a range [1 keV; 20000 keV]; - a control (15), arranged for selecting the first energy threshold (E1) at any level in the range [100 keV; 1200 keV]; - a calculation device (17), arranged for constituting a first image using the values of the first photon counters and storing the first image.