Target for production of x-rays

A product irradiation device comprising:

• a source of radiation that emits x-rays into a treatment region, the source of radiation including:
• a plurality of target layers which convert accelerated electrons into x-rays;
• a plurality of thermally conductive layers interleaved between the target layers, cavities being defined through the conductive layers through which the coolant fluid flows to draw heat away from the target layers;
• an electron accelerator that supplies the accelerated electrons and electron acceleration potentials to the source of x-rays;
• a coolant system which pumps a coolant fluid from a remote location through the conductive layer cavities to cool the source of radiation;
• a radiation shield that protects surrounding areas from stray radiation;
• a product conveyer upon which a product is propagated through the treatment region at a selected speed;
• an operator control that coordinates the operation of the electron accelerator and the product conveyer.

A product irradiation system comprising:

• a conveyor which conveys products past a scan horn;
• an electron accelerator which accelerates electrons to at least 1 MeV;
• an evacuated path which conveys the accelerated electrons to the scan horn;
• an electron sweeping system which sweeps the accelerated electrons across the scan horn;
• a face plate on the scan horn of thermally conductive, lower Z material, coolant fluid channels being defined in the face plate;
• and,
• an anode target of a higher Z material than the face plate mounted to the face plate to convert the accelerated electrons into x-rays for irradiation of the products and into heat, coolant in the face plate coolant channels removing the heat.

A product irradiation system comprising:

• an electron accelerator which accelerates electrons to at least 1 MeV;
• a target on the scan horn including a plurality of layers of high Z metal interleaved with layers of thermally conductive low Z metal, the high Z metal converting the accelerated electrons into x-rays and heat and the thermally conductive low Z metal conducting the heat from the high Z metal;
• an electron sweeping system which sweeps the accelerated electrons across the target;
• a conveyor which conveys products through the x-rays.

A method of x-ray production comprising:

• generating and accelerating an electron beam;
• striking a first layer of a target with the electron beam converting a first portion of the electrons into x-rays of a first energy spectrum, a second portion of the electrons passing through the first target layer;
• striking with the second portion of electrons a second layer of target, converting a third portion of the electrons into x-rays of a second energy spectrum, a fourth portion of the electrons passing through the second target layer;
• and,
• conducting heat through thermally conductive layers sandwiched between the target layers.

A method of x-ray production comprising:

• generating and accelerating an electron beam;
• striking a first layer of a target with the electron beam converting a first portion of the electrons into x-rays of a first energy spectrum, a second portion of the electrons passing through the first target layer;
• striking with the second portion of electrons a second layer of target, converting at least part of the second portion of the electrons into x-rays of a second energy spectrum;
• and,
• dissipating heat generated in the target by:
• conducting heat through thermally conductive layers sandwiched between the target layers;
• running a cooling fluid through thermally conductive material connected to the thermally conductive layers.