From my heat loss calculation, the rack colony is losing about 44% more
heat out of the enclosure (3.93W 0.41lbs/week honey equiv vs 2.72W
0.28lbs/week honey equiv at -15C). When comparing the entrance temperatures
there is clearly a difference. My guess is that the colony without a rack
has more air stream mixing occurring (in vs out). Likely a form of heat
recovery.


Do you hypothesize the lack of heat recovery from the air mixing can
account for all of the 44% additional heat loss? I am unfamiliar with how
your slatted rack might be insulated compared to the rest of the hive
stack, so I thought it might be worth asking, since this seems like a
significant change.

So my hypothesis:
for this experiment will be that using a slatted rack in an insulated
colony will actually cause the colony to run warmer, increase honey
consumption and may actually not add any benefits.


If your hypothesis proves correct, it may not provide benefits in terms of
overwintering success rate, but may provide benefits in earlier and more
rapid brood buildup.

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