Investigation and Evaluation of Pump Types for a Liquid Metal Jet X-Ray Source

Abstract: Since Wilhelm C. Röntgen discovered the x-rays in 1895 little has been done to improve the x-ray technology. In 2003 a group of scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology suggested a new type of x-ray source, namely a liquid metal jet x-ray source. The solid anode in the original source was changed to a liquid metal jet anode. This concept was commercialized by Excillum AB as the MetalJet in 2007. It is important that the x-ray beam is stable to obtain clear x-ray pictures demanding that the metal jet is non-fluctuating. The nozzle and the pump are the two parts in the system affects the metal jet the most. Today a diaphragm pump is used which give rise to a pulsating flow in the liquid. This report will investigate what different pump types exist and what pump types are suitable to pump a liquid metal for this application. A smaller investigation will take place to see if there is an off-the-shelf pump which can be put in the system directly. From the weighted evaluation of pump types it was found that all but one type of electromagnetic pumps, thermoelectric pumps and canned motor pumps are the most suitable pump types to be used in this application. From the smaller investigation into off-the-shelf pump it was concluded that some customization of the considered pump is necessary before the pump can be integrated into the system directly. Mostly, the customization regards material choice.