X-ray Tube Dose Rate Calculator Widget

Source: Design & implementation by Dr Chris Robbins (Grallator) / Facilitated by Ionactive radiation protection resource

For formal radiation safety advice, visit our Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) services page. 

This radiation protection widget is an excellent training / educational resource for those involved in NDT x-ray (industrial radiography), medical x-rays, research and related users. It may also be of use to Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS) or Radiation Protection Advisers (RPA). Those involved in x-ray room shielding design may also find this resource helpful.

Ionactive has worked with Dr Chris Robbins (Grallator) to create this resource exclusively for Ionactive. Chris is a whizz at mathematics, physics, nuclear physics and coding and it's a pleasure to be working with him.

The widget includes some basic information on how it creates its results. If you would like a more in-depth explanation then head over to this resource: Calculate an estimate of x-ray dose rate from an x-ray tube given kV and mA. To compare and contrast the widget output with other historic data, you might also find the following resource useful: X-ray equipment: Constant potential 50-200 KV. Enjoy!

Tip! Note the difference in absorbed dose between tissue and bone. A human body is neither all bone or tissue, so weighting can be used to simulate a whole body dose (this is a rough approximation since the body is made up of many more components). For example, for 150 kV at 1mA with 1mm Al the weighted average dose rate will be somewhere between 2.3-2.6 Gy/h. The reasoning behind this is explained here: Calculate an estimate of x-ray dose rate from an x-ray tube given kV and mA.

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life

– Charles Darwin -