International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

A brief review of the design characteristics of the main construction types of standard movable frame and traditional beehives applicable in beekeeping farms is presented. The performance of a newly developed innovative movable frame beehive constructed of durable, heat-resistant hollow chamber ceramic structural elements is discussed. A comparison of the functional characteristics of prepared experimental ceramic hive prototypes and the prevailing types of standard beehives made of other materials is carried out. The existing requirements and prospects for equipping beekeeping farms with ceramic hives providing prolonged service life, higher yields and increased sustainability in diverse climatic environments and critical conditions are analysed.

Applied research work carried out for the development and manufacture of an innovative movable frame ceramic hive with increased operational stability and efficiency is presented. A brief justification of the design solutions used and the choice of the applied technological approach is made. The main stages of the developed technological regime for the preparation of structural ceramic elements and various modifications of experimental prototypes are discussed in a summarized form. The existing possibilities for the production of new modifications of ceramic beehives with improved performance chracteristics by applying different technological approaches are analyzed. The technological regime for the preparation of structural details is fully compatible with the production methods typical for the ceramic industry and provides the opportunity for further implementation.

In laboratory conditions, the frost resistance of hollow ceramic samples (constructive elements of ceramic beehives) was examined by applying a standardized methodology for assessing the reliability of ceramic products. For both sample types that were investigated (each with different phase compositions), the result for the frost resistance coefficient Kfr is above 84%. The products retain their structural integrity and high resistance in an extreme temperature environment. It was not observed any significant damage that could disrupt their functionality. The obtained results prove the assumptions that the ceramic beehives are appropriate for use in vast geographical regions characterized by critical temperatures and high diurnal and seasonal temperature amplitudes. At the same time, the experimental data can serve for further optimization of the recipe compositions, the technological regime, and for improvements of the construction characteristics of the ceramic elements that build the ceramic beehive.

Prototypes of an innovative collapsible beehive, built of long-lasting, structural elements of quartz ceramics with high atmospheric resistance and the presence of air cavities with thermal insulation properties, were prepared. Prescription compositions, an original set of molds, and an adequate heat treatment regime applicable to obtain the structural details were developed. The role of the various technological factors in the formation of the performance indicators of the end products was analyzed. The main characteristics of the prepared experimental prototypes and their major functional advantages in comparison with the existing standard and traditional hives were observed. The presented innovative beehive provides a favorable natural habitat for the normal and safe development of bee families and allows the full application of modern approaches for the efficient and ecological production of high-quality natural apian products.

An observation of the current state of the beekeeping industry and the prevailing main problems was carried out. The prospects for increasing the efficiency and functional capabilities of the bee farms were analyzed. According to the long-term research activity, a technological regulation was contrived for producing innovative ceramic hives. The development is superior to the existing standard beehives made of other materials, in terms of complex operational indicators. The phase composition and technical characteristics of obtained samples of marl raw material (from Bulgarian deposits) were investigated, potentially applicable for the production of various
modifications of ceramic collapsible hives.

The development refers to an innovative technology and technological scheme of a workshop for the production of beehives made of amorphous quartz ceramics. The conditions for obtaining stable suspensions from quartz glass are emphasized and investigated. The time for the treatment of the glass in the grinding device, the amount of water, the influence of the modifiers in stabilizing the suspension by adjusting the pH level, as well as the most suitable sedimentary composition of the glass particles are established. The factors determining the speed and degree of sintering of the ceramics are investigated and established. They include the density of the raw products, the dispersion of the quartz glass particles and its purity, as well as the environment in the furnace and the sintering mode.

Bees are highly sensitive to noise pollution and in some cases, noise can impact their behaviour. Towards the goal to create optimal living conditions for the bees, we aim to understand how the material of the beehive impacts the microclimate of the beehive. The present paper aims to examine and compare the noise levels inside beehives of the same construction but made out of different materials. Three 10-frame Dadan-Blatt beehives were used in the experiment – a ceramic beehive made out of high-cavity ceramic tiles of marl clay; a ceramic beehive made out of high-cavity ceramic tiles with increased kaolin content and a wooden beehive (pine). The noise was measured in an urbanized area and inside the beehives. The results show that the best performance in terms of noise insulation is the ceramic beehive with increased kaolin content.

An innovative collapsible frame hive was developed, consisting of structural elements made of technical ceramics containing thermal insulation air chambers. Experimental prototypes were prepared using the slip casting method and based on modified recipe compositions, prepared casting molding masses, original gypsum matrices and optimal heat treatment mode. A comparison was performed between the main operational characteristics of the experimental samples and the traditional non-separable hives which have existed throughout history and made primarily of various plant materials and natural plastic raw materials (clays).

A financial project was presented for the construction of a technological line for the production of high-quality replicas of the socalled “yellow paving stones” and an additional assortment of products with different characteristics based on raw materials originating in Bulgaria. After many years of investigation in laboratory and semi-industrial conditions, polycomponent formulations and an original hightemperature technological regime for the preparation of functional and long-lasting silicate products have been developed. The planned technological approach is in accordance with the existing machine park and the qualification of the industrial production personnel, characteristic of the silicate industry. The main possibilities for the realization of the production are the full restoration of the street areas of the central historical part of Sofia and the construction of long-lasting and aesthetic pavements with a variety of functional purposes in different areas of the capital and other populated areas. The current applied development is oriented towards possible potential producers and investors and various specialists from the field of public infrastructure and cultural-historical heritage.

The use of clay as a structural material has been known for centuries. The authors set the task of studying the applicability of clay as a constructive material in the production of beehives. The study aims to make a comparative analysis of temperature conditions in different types and identical in construction beehives by comparing the indicator for ceramic and wooden hives. For the purpose were used three 10-frame hives type “Dadan-Blat” – two ceramic (one made entirely of marl clay, and the other – with increased kaolin content, both ceramic tiles are with high cavity) and one wooden (pine). Measurements of the air temperature and the temperature inside the hives were made for one month. From the obtained results it is established that for the studied beehives, the ceramic hive with high kaolin content has the best thermal insulation properties.

Subject of the present paper is the measurement of temperature changes in the ceramic cavity walls of Dadant Blatt beehives. Using a FLIR P640 infrared camera and two different heat sources, 80 thermogramsof ceramic cavity walls were obtained. The infrared images of the studied objects are divided into rectangular zones. The results of the study are presentedtabularly and graphically.

The article presents a study of the sound and thermal insulation properties of ceramic plates with cavities, designed for beehives. The plates are obtained by the “casting” method from a water-dispersed colloidal system based on a patent-protected quartz glass-ceramic. They are composed of amorphous SiO2, mullite and cristobalite. To measure the thermal conductivity, a thermal chamber is constructed with a heater installed in it. Given that the heat flow passing through the three-layer ceramic plate for beehives is constant, the temperature difference between the two opposite sides of the plate at steady state (at constant heat flow) is measured and the thermal conductivity is calculated. A two-chamber method is used to determine the sound insulation capacity of the ceramic plates for beehives. The sound pressure of the sound waves – the incident one and of the wave which has passed through the sample –is measured in the frequency range from 100 to 3150 Hz