Liquid cooling systems efficiently cool industrial x-ray scanners

LCS offer higher efficiencies compared to air-based heat transfer mechanisms, which translates into higher reliability, reduced field maintenance, greater system uptime and lower total cost of ownership.

X-ray inspection can be used for both process and quality control in automated assembly lines. Only a small portion of the energy generated by these systems is emitted as X-rays; the balance is released as heat. Industrial X-ray systems, which can generate several kilowatts of heat during operation, require cooling of the anode to dissipate this heat for optimised performance and a longer operating life.

Offering optimal temperature stabilisation and precise temperature control, liquid cooling systems recirculate coolant to a predefined set-point temperature. Laird's liquid cooling systems offer many advantages over conventional air-cooled systems by providing higher heat pumping capacity, better ability to direct the heat away from the X-ray tube, more rapid cool down time, and lower noise operation. In addition, LCS is more reliable and requires less maintenance.

Depending on the industrial scanner's application, three different types of liquid cooling systems can be utilised. Laird offers a wide range of standard and custom liquid cooling systems comprised of liquid-to-air, liquid-to-liquid, or chiller-based systems. Liquid cooling systems feature precise temperature control, variable coolant flow rate, coolants with corrosion inhibitors and coolant filtration, as needed. LCS are available in various sizes and cooling capacities to meet most any industrial X-ray application requirement.

"Customers expect an LCS lifespan that equals that of the scanner," said Anders Kottenauer, Senior Vice President of Laird's Thermal Systems Business. "If an X-ray system goes down, it can shut down the entire manufacturing, inspection or security check process. This can significantly impact production and incur large manufacturing costs, or back-up security screening causing massive delays. An LCS should combine ruggedness, reliability and high performance with cost efficiency and must be easy to service in order to minimise system downtime and maintenance costs."