In general, the permisible loading of an X-ray tube in less with three-phase rectifying circuits compared

with the conventional single-phase four-valve circuit, at exposures above about 1 second, but is greater
at shorter exposure times (see Chapter 12, section 21).

In the development of X-ray circuits, from half-wave to full-wave single-phase generators, and to three-
phase equipment, one of the aims has been to reduce ripple voltage and so approach more closely to
the ideal of constant value voltage and current to the X-ray tube. Probably the only exception, at the
present time, is the rather unique single-phase circuit described in principle in Sections 11 and 12, in
which constant voltage is obtained by electronic control valves in the high-tension circuit.

With the more conventional type of equipment in which exposure switching and kV control are obtained
in the primary circuit, the ripple voltage of three-phase six-valve rectifier has been further reduced by
the series connection of two six-valve rectifying circuits, as illustrated in Fig.18.31.

The three-phase mains supply is connected to the primary windings of the high-tension transformer
which are delta-connected. There are two sets of secondary windings; the windings S1A, S2A, S3A of one
set are star-connected, and the other set composed of windings S1B, S2B, S3B are in delta connection.
Each set of secondary windings is connected to six rectifying diodes to form two three-phase six-valve
rectifying circuits which are in series with each other through the earthed connection E, and in series
with the X-ray tube. The two rectifier circuits are simillar, in style and function, to the circuit of Fig.18.30.
 Fig.18.31

The curves representing the output voltages from the rectifying circuits are shown in Fig.18.32(a) and
(b), and it will be seen that two voltages are out of phase. When three voltages are combined, the total
voltage between points 10 and 11 in Fig.18.31 has the wave-form shown in Fig.18.32(c); the peaks of
curve (a) occur between the peaks of curve (b) to produce the final voltage with reduced ripple, as in (c).

Fig.18.32

Another form of three-phase generator, to which high-tension triode switching has been applied, is
illustrated in Fig.18.33.

The output from the triple kV selector is applied to the delta-connected primary windings of two three-
phase high-tension transformers. The two sets of primary windings are connected in parallel with each
other. The secondary windings of each transformer are star-connected.

Each set of secondary windings is connected to a three-phase six-valve bridge rectifying circuit, and the
triode switch valves VC1 and VC2 are connected between the rectifiers and the X-ray tube.
 Fig.18.33

Exposures are controlled electronically by the application of grid bias at GB, and accurate exposures
down to 0-0003 second (0-3 millisecond) can be made.

With equipment of this type, two X-ray tubes are often used simultaneously (particularly for
angiographic examinations), by connecting them in parallel, as indicated in Fig.18.33. For this purpose
the output from the X-ray tube filament supply circuit must be increased to provide the normal total
requirements of two tubes.