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A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm

Publication ,  Journal Article
Basak, T; Rao, KK; Bejan, A
Published in: Chemical Engineering Science
January 1, 1996

A swarm is a temporary structure formed when several thousand honey bees leave their hive and settle on some object such as the branch of a tree. They remain in this position until a suitable site for a new home is located by the scout bees. A continuum model based on heat conduction and heat generation is used to predict temperature profiles in swarms. Since internal convection is neglected, the model is applicable only at low values of the ambient temperature Ta. Guided by the experimental observations of Heinrich (1981a-c, J. Exp. Biol. 91, 25-55; Science 212, 565-566; Sci. Am. 244, 147-160), the analysis is carried out mainly for non-spherical swarms. The effective thermal conductivity is estimated using the data of Heinrich (1981a, J. Exp. Biol. 91, 25-55) for dead bees. For Ta = 5 and 9°C, results based on a modified version of the heat generation function due to Southwick (1991, The Behaviour and Physiology of Bees, pp. 28-47. C.A.B. International, London) are in reasonable agreement with measurements. Results obtained with the heat generation function of Myerscough (1993, J. Theor. Biol. 162, 381-393) are qualitatively similar to those obtained with Southwick's function, but the error is more in the former case. The results suggest that the bees near the periphery generate more heat than those near the core, in accord with the conjecture of Heinrich (1981c, Sci. Am. 244, 147-160). On the other hand, for Ta = 5°C, the heat generation function of Omholt and Lønvik (1986, J. Theor. Biol. 120, 447-456) leads to a trivial steady state where the entire swarm is at the ambient temperature. Therefore an acceptable heat generation function must result in a steady state which is both non-trivial and stable with respect to small perturbations. Omholt and Lønvik's function satisfies the first requirement, but not the second. For Ta = 15°C, there is a considerable difference between predicted and measured values, probably due to the neglect of internal convection in the model.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Chemical Engineering Science

DOI

ISSN

0009-2509

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

51

Issue

3

Start / End Page

387 / 400

Related Subject Headings

  • Chemical Engineering
  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering
 

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Basak, T., Rao, K. K., & Bejan, A. (1996). A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm. Chemical Engineering Science, 51(3), 387–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(95)00283-9
Basak, T., K. K. Rao, and A. Bejan. “A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm.” Chemical Engineering Science 51, no. 3 (January 1, 1996): 387–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(95)00283-9.
Basak T, Rao KK, Bejan A. A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm. Chemical Engineering Science. 1996 Jan 1;51(3):387–400.
Basak, T., et al. “A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm.” Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 51, no. 3, Jan. 1996, pp. 387–400. Scopus, doi:10.1016/0009-2509(95)00283-9.
Basak T, Rao KK, Bejan A. A model for heat transfer in a honey bee swarm. Chemical Engineering Science. 1996 Jan 1;51(3):387–400.
Journal cover image

Published In

Chemical Engineering Science

DOI

ISSN

0009-2509

Publication Date

January 1, 1996

Volume

51

Issue

3

Start / End Page

387 / 400

Related Subject Headings

  • Chemical Engineering
  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering