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OPI - Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) Calculator for Grain Storage Management
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) is a fundamental concept in grain storage management, particularly when it comes to processes such as drying, cooling, and conditioning to achieve the optimal market value. The OPI EMC Calculator assists in determining the EMC of grain, facilitating the optimization of moisture content in stored grain. By inputting key parameters, users can calculate whether fans should be turned on or off to condition the grain effectively. This tool derives its calculations from ASABE standards, though OPI customers have access to more precise curves via the OPI Blue platform. The calculator helps in establishing an efficient conditioning program, potentially encompassing early harvesting at higher moisture contents and moisture rehydration under favorable climatic conditions, all aimed at preserving and enhancing grain quality. The OPI EMC Calculator is part of OPI’s suite of solutions, including OPI Blue for comprehensive moisture monitoring and control using OPI moisture cables, enabling more effective grain management.
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) plays an integral role in grain storage management and optimization, when it comes to drying, cooling and conditioning and achieving maximized market value. EMC is the resulting moisture content of grain and the air surrounding the grain, after they have balanced each other out over a period of time. Our EMC calculator can help determine your grain EMC and optimize the moisture content of your stored grain.
Determine whether you should be turning your fan(s) ON or OFF by entering key information in the calculator to have the calculated Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) of the air that would be used to condition the grain.
At OPI, we go by the old saying: “if that grain is sold by weight, water is money.” So why not capture the maximum allowable moisture content when selling your grain? There are a number of ways to achieve this:
- Harvest earlier at higher moisture contents, which helps you control the dry-down process between the drier and in the bin in order to dry down to the ideal moisture content at the lowest energy cost.
- Operate fans solely for the purpose of quality control with zero tolerance on shrink.
- Rehydrate when possible—given the right climatic conditions and sufficient airflow, time and the appropriate strategy should grain become drier than target.
- Establish the most efficient conditioning program with a complete moisture monitoring-and-control system such as OPI Blue, including OPI moisture cables.