Finally, Refrigeration!

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

The values used to calculate the needed cooling capacity was based on my colony size, number of colonies, room size, insulation all around and the temperature required inside. 3, 4.5hp refrigeration units with a cooling capacity of 35,000 btu each. Each colony is factored at 48btu. The project was sized for 1800 colonies in the shed which needs 86,000btu.

[@ke6gwf]

Which means you can overstuff it!! ;) Be prepared for air flow issues if you over stuff it, but you have fans available to help with that anyway.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

@ LOL

[@ETsBees]

Hey thanks for posting those numbers, very helpful. I haven’t watched the vid yet, up in the woods hunting with my two oldest. I will watch it later.

[@mikep4514]

Congrats on pulling the trigger on your cooling.

[@dcsblessedbees]

In my opinion it is always good to over engineer, it gives you wiggle room when things go sideways. Thanks for sharing Ian, Blessed Days...

[@ke6gwf]

First! That notification excited me! This costs a lot of money to install, and the operating costs will add more during the warm spells, but this is going to save you so much stress through the whole winter and spring, because instead of wandering the shed feeling helpless, you can just think about the power bill and get back to more important things! Lol It will also help your operation so much, reducing winter losses and coming out stronger in the spring, because you can shut them down when they are ready to shut down, rather than whenever the snow comes, and leave them on ice until nature is ready for them in the spring. So, I think this is a really good investment, and is going to help you in so many ways, but I am also glad we have gotten to walk with you through all the struggles, so we understand the issues involved. Now, let's chill some bees!

[@matthewsweeney2577]

That must have been one heck of a board/family meeting, cool beans…and bees

[@russellaymond312]

Thank you for sharing Ian Always enjoy seeing how others raise their bees.

[@sebrassino]

Ive heard you talking about this for years. Hope this will reduce the loss on those warm days.

[@ThatBeeMan]

I'm so glad to see you getting this installed. This will bring a new dimension of management possibilities to your operation!

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

It will help me tap my management into my overall fundamental understanding of their behaviour, I’ll see if it’s correct

[@jeffdopp4470]

good for you . about time . business is growing .

[@peaceinvalleygreenhouse6915]

Been waiting for this to happen, good on you. Your management capability goes up as of now.

[@Kenandlizabeehaven]

Can you give us a ballpark price on how much it cost you thanks

[@Bri_bees]

I think you can wire the fans on the evaporator coils so you can use them without the chiller. They should provide more airflow than the fans you usually use.

[@10peteo]

That will certainly make managing weather issues and other farm chores spring and fall a lot easier.

[@skipsandvig8888]

Refrigeration tech here, hobby beekeeper too. I work on those units regularly.

[@davezman2295]

Love it. I am from North Florida in the panhandle. I haul bees and have my own. We go north for the Summer. Neat set up. Love it

[@danielweston9188]

Backup plans are always worth it . . .

[@beeguy]

Do the units have defrosting capability? I've heard they can ice up if not because of the amount of moisture the bees perspire.

[@michaelposner3994]

How are you going to bring in fresh air to controll CO2 with AC on? Are you adding adding a heat recovery unit?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Air flow will be controlled but constant

[@blaineparker8733]

Amazing clean room

[@jariZet]

Ian I am wondering could you harvest the heat generated by the bees in the shed and use it to heat your odfice for example?

[@robertadams2857]

Could heat his house with all that heat being pulled out of the bees, and maybe more..

[@time2fly2124]

"if theyre flyin' theyre dyin'" ive been really worried about that this fall, probably been the warmest october here in NY in a long time. being near 70-80 degrees this late in the year is pretty concerning. i'd much rather it have started snowing here already, or at least soon, but temps still look like were in the 50-60s.

[@graemediesel2936]

Designing it with extra cooling capacity sounds like a wise investment to me. What is the maximum outdoor temperature it can handle?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

I’d have to talk to the engineer for that ,

[@ludgermerkens]

How close to the bee shed is your family home? Is it feasible to install a heat pump to use the warmth of the bees to heat your house?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Except it will only run during Warner days , and a couple weeks each year

[@jasonseaward8506]

What room temp are you targeting? I know youve said it but i cant remember for the life of me?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

4C

[@FrankfurtFury]

What about the air exchange Ian? Have you calculated how many cubic feet of air exchange per minute you have in your facility? Wouldn't you need to turn down the air exchange rate if the temperatures outside are getting too high? How do you battle this issue with the air exchange rate? The lower the exchange rate, the higher the C02. I have thought about the same thing but I can't see that the refrigeration system would be efficient enough to overcome the air exchange if it is only covering the BTU's of the colonies. So in my calculations for my overwintering facility, I would have to oversize the refrigeration system by a lot, in order to overcome that issue.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Yes, it will be the same air exchange as on a January day, very low but steady . The refrigeration will keep up to it

[@FrankfurtFury]

@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog So with that many bees in your facility, you won't run into CO2 issues when you run in on very low? I noticed your exhaust ducts are on the top under the ceiling. CO2 accumulates on the floor since it is heavier than clean air. Are you not afraid of your bees getting exposed to too much CO2? My exhaust is picking it up on the floor along each side of the building with 8in holes every 4ft. My facility works on positive pressure within the building.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

@@FrankfurtFury the shed will run exactly the same way as it normally does, except the added option to cool down the room . The air mixes thoroughly. When I choose to cool, I’ll have the air flow set at minimum exchange. It will be the same as a January day

[@JeffreyPetersen-n3z]

Good thing, I’ve thought of you could stabilize the temperature you would keep from overactive bee gut. Sort of like the white nose syndrome in bats. Just the fact of not sleeping well. One caution; watch the evaporation drains. Be able to send the condensation out of the room if needed. Apple farmers keep the moisture for weight retention. You might want to lower it.

[@mikehill9888]

Thank you for the video😊

[@emblebeeapiary3999]

Curious if you would share...what is the LxWxH of your winter shed? 28 colonies now...someday steppler numbers :)

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

The room is 45x50x12

[@plusmanikantanr]

I bet those "refrigeration" units are also heat pumps, may you can pump that excess heat back into your house or honey pails. Saving heating costs while cooling the bees 😄

[@jamesmcnally2519]

You will enjoy that!!!

[@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po]

Ian.. how well insulated is your bee shed? Just wondering for possibly building my own

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

@@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po 4” under, 12” over, 6” around

[@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po]

@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog all closed cell foam?

[@ZZTalkZZ]

Is there a higher death count when hibernating longer?

[@naturessweetbees3033]

Wow… very cool! I am really looking forward to following your results with this plan. Are you the 1st in Canada to try this?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Oh no, this is not old school but refrigeration has been used for many years by beekeepers across Canada

[@aaronparis4714]

Plus a nice power bill you must get lots of government grants 😅or you got bees under the farm ?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Except this expenditure will only run a couple weeks every year

[@Drewjober]

Also It’s going to help you in a lot of little ways which means less stress on you and equipment

[@danielweston9188]

Is the concrete floor insulated?

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

4”

[@troytyrrell4333]

Have you ever thought about one of them big ass fans like in feedlots on auto control would move air around nicely.

[@perrybayes4646]

What do think of doing OA while in the shed like half way thru the winter and just before removing in the spring...

[@carriemartindale-wetherup5243]

He tried that and found it wasnt a good idea.

[@russellkoopman3004]

It is a bit of an investment for sure. But if you look at the cost over time it is probably not as bad. Missing those cold days loading bees and prying the pallets off the cold ground with your fingers half frozen will be a good day. Now it will be more on your time table.

[@eem8039]

Finally and now all you need is a wind turbine generator because solar power is out of question in that side of the world

[@edcoffin3514]

Refrigeration in Canada 😂😂😂

[@claudesully]

🥸

[@aaronparis4714]

lol leave them bees outsides

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Oh hell no!! Have you ever felt a MB wind 🌬️

[@aaronparis4714]

@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog lol yup them winds hit my ass all winter long in Nova Scotia maybe just not as long we are colder then you today brrrr 😅

[@aaronparis4714]

@ 😅

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

@ you guys have a wet cold too, thst one requires a fireplace to warm up lol

[@aaronparis4714]

@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog I have a nice little fire place just like you and lots of wood hate winter 😅

[@richardnoel3141]

Splendid job!! It’s really exciting this, I know you’ve been looking at h to is for years! Well done for putting it in! “You gotta pay a bit, to get a bit” that’s how I see it!!🙌🤓🫶☺️✅🐝🧑‍🌾