Overview
MEGEL MG-650-UH is the urban district-heating specification within the MEGEL silica aerogel felt range, engineered for the temperature window and cost requirements of municipal heating network operators. The reinforcement is a polyester non-woven matrix — replacing the glass-fibre mat used in the higher-temperature MG-650-IP, OR, and MP grades — which lowers cost while preserving the aerogel thermal performance over the relevant service window. Bulk density is reduced to 160–200 kg/m³, the lightest grade in the MEGEL range, further benefitting the procurement cost-per-square-metre target that drives district heating insulation specifications.
The service temperature ceiling is 200°C continuous, matching the maximum supply temperature found in modern district heating networks. Supply temperatures in Chinese district heating systems built since 2018 are typically capped at 130–150°C under GB 50736, with return lines at 60–80°C — both well inside the MG-650-UH operating envelope. The thermal conductivity at 25°C is 0.018–0.020 W/(m·K), unchanged from higher-grade variants because the aerogel matrix itself does the thermal work; the reinforcement choice does not affect lambda.
China's national policy push for district heating decarbonisation, codified in GB/T 51410 (Technical specification for district heating insulation with aerogel composites), has made silica aerogel a primary insulation option for supply lines DN200 and above. MG-650-UH is positioned to serve this regulatory-mandated demand at a procurement cost that competes directly with polyurethane pre-insulated pipe (PIP) at equivalent thermal resistance.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Reinforcement | — | Polyester non-woven |
| Bulk density | kg/m³ | 160–200 |
| Thermal conductivity at 25°C | W/(m·K) | 0.018–0.020 |
| Thermal conductivity at 100°C | W/(m·K) | 0.022–0.024 |
| Thermal conductivity at 200°C | W/(m·K) | 0.026–0.030 |
| Service temperature range | °C | −40 to 200 (continuous) |
| Hydrophobicity (water uptake, 24h immersion) | % | <5 |
| Water contact angle | ° | 130–145 |
| Fire classification (GB 8624) | — | Class A (non-combustible) |
| Compliance reference | — | GB/T 51410 (district heating insulation with aerogel) |
| Standard roll dimensions | m | 1.0 × 10 or 1.5 × 6 |
| Available thicknesses | mm | 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 |
Applications
Urban District Heating Supply Lines
MG-650-UH is the primary application target — wrapped on DN200–DN1200 supply pipework operating at 90–150°C, secured with stainless-steel banding, and protected by a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) outer jacket or 0.5 mm steel sheath against soil moisture and mechanical damage during backfill. At 10 mm thickness, MG-650-UH delivers thermal resistance equivalent to 30–40 mm of conventional polyurethane PIP foam, reducing trench cross-section by 35–50% on a typical DN500 supply line. Civil works savings — narrower trench, lower excavation volume, faster pipe-laying productivity — typically offset the higher per-square-metre felt cost within the first kilometre of network build.
District Heating Return Lines
Return-line piping operating at 60–80°C uses MG-650-UH at reduced thickness (5–8 mm) where the lower temperature gradient does not justify higher thermal resistance. The thinner radial profile is particularly valuable in dense urban environments where supply and return pipes share a single trench — the combined trench width can be reduced by 0.3–0.5 m compared to conventional PIP, a non-trivial saving on a high-density urban network build.
Pre-Insulated Pipe (PIP) Aerogel Core Manufacturing
Pre-insulated pipe manufacturers integrate MG-650-UH as the insulation core in factory-fabricated DH pipe sections, replacing polyurethane foam where regulatory or fire-safety requirements demand non-combustible insulation. The thin-section profile allows the same outer casing diameter to accommodate a wider carrier pipe, increasing useful hydraulic capacity in DN300+ supply lines for retrofit replacement of capacity-constrained legacy networks. Factory fabrication includes butt-welding of end-cap details and pressure-test certification per GB/T 29047.
Industrial Process Heating to 200°C
Process heating circuits — building HVAC primary loops, industrial wash systems, hot-water glycol circuits in food processing — operating in the 80–180°C range use MG-650-UH where the lower-cost polyester reinforcement is acceptable given the moderate temperature service. The flexible felt format allows on-site cutting and wrap installation by general maintenance labour, suitable for retrofit of building-services pipework in industrial facilities.
Packaging & Storage
MG-650-UH is supplied as rolled felt in 1.0 × 10 m or 1.5 × 6 m formats, packaged in polyethylene film and standard corrugated cartons. Documentation includes batch CoA, GB/T 51410 compliance statement, and a manufacturer declaration of polyester reinforcement composition for environmental disclosure. MOQ is 50 m²; container shipments cover 1,500–3,000 m² per 40' container.
Store dry, below 40°C. The polyester reinforcement is rated to 200°C continuous service but has a softening point near 240°C; transient excursions above the rated ceiling can permanently compress the felt and reduce thermal performance. This contrasts with the glass-fibre reinforced higher-temperature grades that tolerate brief overheating without permanent damage — specify MG-650-IP or MG-650-OR for service lines that may experience commissioning overheating events.
Related Products
- MEGEL® Silica Aerogel — parent hub
- MEGEL MG-650-IP — industrial pipe variant, 650°C ceiling
- MEGEL MG-650-MP — marine variant with IMO MED certification
- MEGEL MG-650-OR — oil refining variant, 800°C peak
- thermaleast.com — high-temperature insulation systems portfolio (SEMITECH sister site)
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