Successful development of Modern Computed Tomography system BKCT-01

Successful development of Modern Computed Tomography system BKCT-01

On September 29, 2021, the national science and technology task “Research, design and manufacture a system of CT tomography equipment using conical beams for industrial applications”, code KC.05.18/16- 20 under the National Key Science and Technology Program for the 2016-2020 period on “Research, application and development of energy technology” led by Dr. Tran Kim Tuan, lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Environmental Physics, Institute of Engineering Physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, was accepted at the State level under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Thiep (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) – Chairman of the Council.

The project was carried out in 34 months (July 2018 – April 2021) with the main participation of lecturers and staff from the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Environmental Physics, School of Engineering Physics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, along with the research cooperation with units inside and outside the industry such as Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation, School of Mechanics (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), DVPX Co., Ltd.. In nearly 3 years of implementation, the task has completed all the objectives set out with good quantity and quality which was highly appreciated by the Council.

The outstanding results of the task can be summarized as follows:

1) Successfully fabricated a system of CT tomography equipment using cone X-ray beam (Cone Beam CT: CBCT) designed for industrial applications, the device bearing the symbol BKCT-01.

This is the most modern 7th generation CBCT equipment, first manufactured in Vietnam. The device can tomography for a variety of samples of different sizes, made of different materials with high spatial accuracy and resolution. The cost of the equipment system is only about one third of that of equivalent foreign equipment systems, creating conditions for this type of modern equipment to serve more strongly the supporting industry of the country. The equipment is designed in compliance with relevant TCVN, ensuring industrial design, convenience and safety for users and ensuring radiation safety.

The main technical characteristics of the device BKCT-01:

  • Micrometer focal length X-ray generator, high voltage up to 240 kV, output current up to 3 mA, power 320 W;
  • CsI ​​detector plate with DQE > 70%, operating size 116×146 mm with 2352×2944 pixel matrix;
  • Maximum object size that can be measured (Φ×H): 350×300 mm;
  • Shooting time for 200×300 mm objects: < 10 minutes;
  • Spatial resolution: max ~ 50 μm, normal ~ 100 μm;
Overall image and inside of the imaging chamber of the BKCT-01  tomography system

2) Successfully researched, designed and built an image reconstruction program for CBCT equipment.

Studying and mastering image reconstruction algorithms is always a difficult and complex issue. The research team has researched, built and applied many reconstruction algorithms for the designed CBCT system, thereby choosing the most suitable algorithm for the object of the system. BKCT-01. The image reconstruction program of BKCT-01 has been designed and built to operate stably, reliably and with high accuracy. In addition, depending on the subject of shooting, the user can choose a reconstruction method on the software developed by the research team to achieve the image reproduction effect that best suits the specific requirements of the industry.

3) Successfully researched and built a software program for synchronous control of devices in the process of collecting data on objects, signal processing software and software for displaying 2D and 3D images.

The software works reliably, with high accuracy and stability. The working status and position of the equipment during the sample capture process are both controlled through the software and controlled by the positioning sensors, ensuring high accuracy and reliability. Data collected during specimen capture is processed in several steps: pre-processing, data filtering before and after image reconstruction, in order to obtain the most realistic reconstruction possible. The software to control and display the reconstructed image is designed to be user-friendly, easy and convenient.

Software interface for taking pictures and displaying images of the BKCT-01 system
Surveying resolution through grayscale chart and standard object reconstruction image showing the ability to observe details inside the image of the BKCT-01 system

4) The BKCT-01 system is designed with many convenient features for users in different requirements to be able to best evaluate the object.

The BKCT-01 system can display images in many different ways so that the user can best observe the internal structure of the object being photographed. Those features are: display 2D and 3D images, color and black-and-white photos, display according to rotation angles, zoom in and out for each area of ​​interest. The user can directly measure the size of each desired part on the reconstructed image, so the desired part position and size can be determined with high accuracy.

The images reproduced at angles allow the most thorough observation of the internal details of the subject

The BKCT-01 system is capable of participating in improving product quality in supporting industries, making a positive contribution to the national economy. This system of CBCT equipment can be deployed for non-destructive testing, or for product inspection applications in power – electronics industrial plants, machine building, auto parts, and other products. products of the supporting industry… The CBCT system’s features are enhanced depending on the specific technical requirements of the user: automatic determination of X-ray energy depending on the material and size of the object, determine the optimal position for the subject to get the best image, automatically select the appropriate shooting mode for the subject…

The research results have been published through scientific articles in the international journal ISI (Q2), 03 articles in prestigious domestic journals and many domestic and foreign scientific conferences. Through the performance of the task, the research staff has made great progress in knowledge, matured strongly and accumulated a lot of experience. The staffs have gradually mastered the technologies and techniques in building a modern tomographic equipment system, helping them to master the tomography technology in the near future, ready to support and deploy this modern technical application for not only in industry but also in other fields.

School of Engineering Physics