THERMAL EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF BEE NESTS AND ARTIFICIAL HIVES
Published in GÉP 2026/3-4
https://doi.org/10.70750/GEP.2026.3-4.10
Forrai Sándor
mérnök tanár, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Mérnöki Kar, Gépészeti Intézet
Dr. habil. Szabó P. Balázs
egyetemi docens, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Mérnöki Kar, Élelmiszermérnöki Intézet
ABSTRACT
The thermal performance of honeybee nests depends on the properties of the enclosing structure, cavity geometry, and internal comb arrangement. This paper presents a focused literature review comparing natural tree cavities and artificial beehives in terms of heat loss and winter microclimate. Experimental enclosure measurements and computational studies are distinguished from trials involving live colonies. Under the investigated modelling conditions, bee space above the combs increased heat loss by up to approximately 70%. Colony trials found that hive wrapping combined with top insulation reduced winter hive mass loss and supplementary sugar consumption and improved overwintering survival. These findings support evaluating hive materials, internal geometry, ventilation, and moisture conditions together when developing new hive designs.
