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Quartz Sleeves

Quartz Sleeves

-- Steady & Reliable Manufacturer --

The Function of Protective Quartz Sleeves

Quartz sleeves, often referred to as quartz jackets or quartz thimbles, serve as crucial protective envelopes for high-output UV lamps (especially germicidal UVC lamps) in water purification, air disinfection, and process fluid treatment systems. The fundamental purpose of the quartz sleeve is twofold: to provide an insulating barrier protecting the lamp from the liquid or environment, and to optimize the transmission of the germicidal UVC light (254nm) into the fluid or air. Quartz is the only viable material because it is highly transparent to UVC wavelengths, unlike regular glass which blocks them. Our sleeves are typically cylindrical tubes, sealed at one end and open at the other for lamp installation. We utilize a high-quality, fire-polished fused quartz (usually JGS2 or equivalent for optimal 254nm transmission) to ensure minimal light attenuation. The dimensional precision is key to ensuring a perfect, watertight seal with the system's glands and O-rings, preventing fluid leakage into the lamp compartment, which would lead to immediate failure. Furthermore, the surface quality is maintained to resist fouling and scaling from mineral deposits in hard water, which is a common cause of reduced UV effectiveness over time. We provide both standard circular cross-section sleeves and specialized twin-tube or flanged designs for complex reactor geometries. The wall thickness is optimized to balance mechanical strength for pressure resistance with high UV transmission. We understand that sleeve failure compromises the entire disinfection process and leads to costly downtime, therefore, our manufacturing includes rigorous leak testing and dimensional checks on the ends and sealing surfaces. We also recommend periodic cleaning regimens to maintain the sleeve’s transparency, which is paramount for ensuring the disinfection system operates at its maximum specified dose. Our product is designed for longevity in harsh environments, including ozonated water systems, where the chemical inertness of quartz is indispensable for operational reliability over multi-year service cycles.

Standard Dimensions and Material Grade Parameters

Quartz sleeves are specified primarily by their length, diameter (both inner and outer), wall thickness, and the specific UV transmission characteristics of the quartz material.

Parameter Standard UV Sleeve High-Output/Custom Tolerance/Remark
Outer Diameter (OD) 20mm to 35mm 10mm to 70mm (Custom) Matches gland/seal size.
Length Tolerance ±1.0mm ±0.5mm (Precision) Ensures proper fit within the reactor housing.
Wall Thickness 1.5mm to 2.0mm 1.0mm to 3.0mm Balance between strength and transmission.
End Closure Type Hemispherical (Dome) or Flat-Sealed Standard closed end for single-ended lamps.
Sealing Zone Finish Precision Ground/Fire Polished Guarantees perfect O-ring seating.
UV Transmission (T) ≥90% @ 254nm ≥92% @ 254nm Crucial for germicidal effectiveness.
Material Grade JGS2 Equivalent (Low Hydroxyl) High Purity Fused Quartz Optimized for 254nm output.
Concentricity ±0.2mm ±0.1mm Ensures uniform spacing around the lamp.

The 254nm transmission rate is the single most critical specification for a quartz sleeve, as this is the peak germicidal wavelength. We utilize quartz that is specifically processed to minimize hydroxyl (OH) content, which otherwise absorbs UV light and degrades efficiency. The Outer Diameter (OD) and its tolerance are vital, as they directly determine the sealing performance with the system's glands (nuts and O-rings). A small deviation can lead to fluid leaks or improper seating. We ensure the sealing end (often a ground or fire-polished finish) is perfectly circular and smooth. The Concentricity of the tube ensures the sleeve provides uniform thermal insulation and space around the lamp, which is necessary for the lamp to operate at its optimal temperature and maximum UV output. We offer both single-ended (closed one side) and double-ended (open both sides) sleeves for different lamp configurations. Customization frequently involves stepped diameters, internal barriers, or special flange preparations for large industrial UV reactors. Our manufacturing capability extends to very long sleeves (over 1.5m) required for large-scale municipal water treatment plants, maintaining strict straightness tolerances across the entire length to facilitate easy lamp insertion and withdrawal.

Primary Applications in Disinfection and Process Control

Quartz sleeves are integral, high-reliability components within systems that use UV light for sterilization, curing, and scientific processes.

  • Water Treatment and Disinfection:
    • Municipal Water Plants: Protecting high-power UVC lamps in large-scale flow-through reactors to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and protozoa without chemicals.
    • Residential UV Systems: Used in home water filtration systems to provide a clean, secure barrier between the lamp and drinking water.
    • Wastewater and Reuse Water: Used in secondary and tertiary treatment stages for final pathogen inactivation.
  • Air and Surface Sterilization:
    • Used as a protective cover for UVC emitters in HVAC systems, hospital air purification units, or cleanroom ceiling panels.
  • Industrial Process Fluid Treatment:
    • Disinfecting ultrapure water used in semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical compounding, and food/beverage processing, where zero contamination is acceptable.
  • Horticulture and Aquatics:
    • Used in advanced greenhouse irrigation and large aquarium systems to control algae and waterborne pathogens without chemical addition.
  • UV Curing and Hardening Systems:
    • Protecting the light source in UV curing lamps (e.g., for inks, adhesives, and coatings), often requiring synthetic quartz for optimal UV spectrum transmission.

In all these applications, the sleeve must perform under continuous exposure to moisture, temperature fluctuations, and often scale-forming minerals. The longevity and high UV transmission of our sleeves ensure the system maintains the required minimum UV dose over its full operational cycle. Our twin-tube designs, which house the lamp and temperature sensor in a single unit, are particularly popular in advanced water monitoring systems, offering a compact and highly efficient solution for maintaining optimal UV output temperature.

Critical Advantages and Reliability Factors

The reliability of a UV disinfection system hinges on the quality of the quartz sleeve. Our sleeves deliver superior performance through focused manufacturing advantages.

  • Maximal 254nm Transmission: We utilize specialized quartz material optimized for the germicidal wavelength, ensuring that the maximum possible UV energy reaches the fluid or air, translating directly into higher disinfection efficacy and reduced power consumption.
  • Guaranteed Watertight Seal: The precise grinding and finishing of the sleeve ends, particularly the sealing zone, guarantee compatibility with standard O-rings and glands, preventing leakage, which is the most common cause of lamp failure in water systems.
  • High Purity for Ozone-Free Use: We offer specific sleeve grades that prevent the creation of ozone (O3​), which is critical for indoor air systems or certain water treatment processes where ozone is undesirable or toxic.
  • Excellent Thermal Stability: The quartz sleeve acts as a heat sink/insulator, helping the UV lamp maintain its optimal operating temperature (usually around 40∘C) regardless of the surrounding fluid temperature, maximizing the lamp's UVC output efficiency.
  • Resistance to Fouling and Scaling: The smooth, fire-polished surface finish inherently resists the adhesion of mineral scale (such as calcium carbonate) and biofouling compared to rougher materials. This maintains high UV transparency over longer periods between cleaning cycles.
  • Custom Sizing and Geometry: Our capability extends beyond standard tubes to include large, thin-walled sleeves, multi-bore tubes, and complex welded assemblies required for next-generation, high-flow UV reactors. This ensures perfect integration into unique or proprietary system designs.
  • Mechanical Strength and Durability: The carefully controlled wall thickness provides excellent mechanical strength against pressure fluctuations and handling stresses, ensuring a long operational life in challenging industrial environments.

We employ a 100% leak test on all closed-end sleeves using air pressure or hydrostatic methods before packaging, guaranteeing the component's integrity and providing our customers with absolute confidence in system reliability. This rigorous testing minimizes field failures and maintenance costs.

Payment, Logistics, and Volume Procurement

Procuring quartz sleeves often involves high-volume, recurring orders for OEM integration, necessitating robust logistics and favorable commercial terms.

  • Commercial Terms and Payment: Given the typical high volume of OEM and industrial orders, we prefer T/T (Wire Transfer). For recurring OEM clients, we can establish Net 30 or Net 60 credit terms following a credit review and based on contractual volume commitments. We typically require a 30% deposit for the first container shipment, with the balance due upon sight of the Bill of Lading (B/L).
  • Bulk Packaging and Safety: Sleeves are packaged in high-density foam trays designed to protect each tube from wall-to-wall contact and shock. These trays are secured in specialized, high-strength plywood crates suitable for stacking and long-distance sea freight or high-volume truck transport. Packaging is optimized to minimize shipping costs per unit while ensuring zero breakage.
  • Shipping Logistics: For high-volume orders common in water treatment, we primarily use Sea Freight under FOB (Free On Board) or CFR (Cost and Freight) terms from the port of Shanghai/Qingdao. For urgent, smaller refill orders, we utilize air freight (DHL, FedEx). We coordinate closely with the client's freight forwarder to manage container loading and documentation efficiently.
  • Lead Time: Standard sleeves for common lamp sizes (e.g., 15mm OD) typically have a lead time of 3-4 weeks for container volumes. Custom lengths or complex designs may require 5-7 weeks due to specialized fabrication and quality control processes. We recommend clients place annual blanket orders with scheduled releases to ensure just-in-time inventory.
  • Customs and Documentation: We provide full export documentation, including origin certification, commercial invoices, and tariff codes, ensuring rapid customs processing globally. Our insurance covers full replacement cost for any confirmed breakage during transit, ensuring the client's inventory supply is protected. We also offer advice on volume-based procurement strategies to achieve the lowest possible landed cost per unit.

Essential Frequently Asked Questions on UV Sleeves

  • Q: Why does the quartz sleeve need to be cleaned periodically?

    A: The sleeve must be cleaned to remove scale (mineral deposits like calcium and magnesium) and bio-film that accumulate on its exterior surface when exposed to water. These deposits act as an opaque filter, blocking the germicidal UVC light from reaching the water. A scale layer of just 0.5mm can reduce the effective UV dose by 20% to 50%. Periodic cleaning (typically every 3 to 6 months) with a mild acid solution (like acetic acid or citric acid) or mechanical wiping is necessary to maintain maximum UV transmission and system efficacy.

  • Q: What is the risk of using sleeves with high Hydroxyl (OH) content?

    A: Hydroxyl groups (OH), which are water residues within the quartz lattice, absorb UV light significantly, especially around 220nm and 2730nm (in the IR). Since the peak germicidal wavelength is 254nm, high OH content can dramatically reduce the UVC output delivered to the water. Our standard quartz sleeves use a low-OH grade (JGS2 equivalent) that is optimized for high transmission at 254nm, ensuring that the rated UV dose of your system is accurately maintained over the life of the sleeve and lamp. Always confirm the OH content for sleeves used in critical disinfection applications.

  • Q: Can I use the quartz sleeve from one brand of UV system in another?

    A: While quartz sleeves appear visually similar, they are often dimensionally specific to the UV reactor and gland design of the manufacturer. The crucial elements are the outer diameter (OD), the length, and the precise finish of the open end where the O-ring seals. Using a sleeve with a slight dimensional mismatch can lead to a faulty seal, resulting in water leakage and electrical failure. We highly recommend ordering sleeves matched to the specific OEM part number or providing us with the exact drawing/dimensions of the sealing gland. We specialize in manufacturing OEM-compatible replacement sleeves to prevent such failures.

  • Q: What is the difference between a flat-sealed and a hemispherical-sealed end?

    A: The difference is primarily structural. A hemispherical (dome) end is created by fire-polishing and closing the tube, resulting in a smooth, rounded end that distributes pressure evenly and is mechanically very strong. A flat-sealed end uses a flat quartz plate welded onto the tube end. The flat end is easier to manufacture for very large diameters and can sometimes simplify lamp insertion but may introduce minor welding stress. For most water treatment applications, the dome end is standard due to its superior strength and uniformity, minimizing the risk of implosion under pressure.

From Made-in-China to
Global Smart Manufacturing

Yancheng Mingyang Quartz Products Co., Ltd. is a company specializing in the production of quartz and special glass products. Yancheng Mingyang Quartz Products Co., Ltd. is the production plant of Jinzhou Mingde Quartz Glass Co., Ltd. in Jiangsu, Since its establishment, the company has developed rapidly, introduced advanced technology and production equipment at home and abroad, and continuously improved and improved product quality. Relying on its own advantages, we have developed a variety of products suitable for the market and meet the needs of different customers, and solved many urgent production problems for our customers.

The company's products include quartz glass tubes, double-hole quartz glass tubes, quartz glass rods, quartz sheets, sapphire windows, calcium fluoride glass windows, infrared ultraviolet coatings, high-pressure resistant aluminosilicate glass window panels, quartz glass instruments, high borosilicate glass instruments, quartz crucibles, quartz gold-plated tubes, quartz heaters, quartz infrared heating tubes, far-infrared directional radiation heaters ultraviolet germicidal lamps and other special types of quartz glass products.

Yancheng Mingyang Quartz Products Co., Ltd.
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