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EQM Control Model
EQM Conditioning Principles
7.
Adding heat
Adding a small amount of heat has a dramatic effect on EQM. For example: a typical fall day with 45F
temperature and 75% relative humidity produces an EQM of 17% for corn. Just a 3F temperature rise drops the
relative humidity to 67% and the EQM to 15.3%.
This means that with a very small addition of heat:
•
Target EQMs can be easily attained
•
Much greater time for aeration can be available
8.
Drying Front
Whenever drying occurs there is evaporative cooling which results in condensation and surface moisture on the
cooler grain. Mold can form if air is stagnant and moisture is present. For this reason, aeration is generally not
interrupted even when weather conditions are unfavorable. A small amount of heat can often make those ambient
conditions tolerable and extend the amount of time that Target EQM air can be used. Large amounts of heat that
are typical with conventional heaters result in a more pronounced drying front. More condensation occurs at the
front, in the bin headspace, and on the bin walls. This is particularly important to prevent clumping, freezing, and
sticking to the walls.
