Condensation

Black Comb · Oct 8, 2009

How much condensation should I expect in a hive.

I've had the varroa tray in for the last 3 days (total 5 drop so not bad) and when I took it out this morning it was quite wet.
It hasn't rained since I put it in so I assume it's condensation (was frosty here last night)?

The set up is b/b with full (ivy) super on top, crown board (holes sealed) then eke containing 50mm roof insulation (the type with aluminium skin both sides)
Then roof.

Interested in all your thoughts.

Peter

Finman · Oct 8, 2009

PeterS said:
How much condensation should I expect in a hive.

You will never know.

When you have a mesh floor, it handles the moisture problem.
It depends on your hive wall and ceiling insulation, how much it condensates water.

If the mesh floor has moisture it mesans that it is cold and when it meets the warm air from the hive, moisture condensates onto surface.
In sumemr after cold night I have moisture and eater deroplets on my fasten bottom board.

*******

In theory :

We have 15 kg sugar in the food and 3 kg water in the food = 18 kg. (water 17%)

We have photosyntesis formula 6 CO2 + 6 H2O = sugar and molecular weight 372

We have cell respiration formula C6 H12 O6 + 6 O2 = molecular weight 372

Sugar + oxygen --> water + carbon diokside.

30% of sugar will be returned to water. From 15 kg sugar we get 4,5 kg water.
We had allready 3 kg water in food solution , so we have together 7,5 kg water source in the food 18 kg store.

So winter food has about 40% water potential which is released via respiration.

If the hive has 25 kg food stores, it generates 10 litre water via respiration.

That is the water which you arrange out from the hive during half a year.

Finman · Oct 8, 2009

.
In spring the cluster temperature is high 32C and without brood it is 23C.

The dew point is closer when cluster temp is low.

My hives have in early spring ice sticks inside the hive and snow crystals on walls. That is natural in the hive and bees do well.

If hive has good insulation, it does not transfer heat outside so easy as in cold hive. It is a place of dew point, which commands where condensation happens.

Condensation may take place on walls, on bottom or it moves outside.
It is bad if it is on ceiling surface.

You may ventilate all heat out and there is no moisture problem but then hive is not real shelter for bees.

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JCBrum · Oct 8, 2009

If we can cope with the 'Finglish' , this is a very good post. Well done Finman.

I don't think I could say that in Fin-speak.

JC.

Black Comb · Oct 8, 2009

Thank you Finman.

You are very helpful.

Finman · Oct 8, 2009

.
You aaar wellcome!

We have here in Finland a tribe, and when they open the mouth, responsibility moves to the listeners. :hat:

But I am afraid that they will be second after English humour.

* Men were tarvelling with train. That bad ass tribe man started to wrap his tobacco.
- A neighbour said: Don't smoke!
- I am not smoking, I am just preparing.
- You cannot even prepare.

Time went and and the non bad ass man started to eat his sandwiches.
- Don't fart! said a bad ass tribe man.
- I am not farting, I am eating.
- But you cannot even prepare!

.