DX+, an optimized version of DX technology

Abstract

Since the 1990‘s, DUBAL has engaged in self-development of proprietary aluminium reduction technology. DX and DX+ technologies, both being in-house designed, modeled, tested and optimized, are the latest products of this development process. In quest to decrease capital cost per tonne, DUBAL designed DX+ technology and started up five demonstration cells between June and August 2010. DX+ cells are similar to DX cells, but larger in size: the productivity per square metre of potroom is increased by more than 17%. This paper describes the DX+ cell design evolution from DX technology. It also summarizes the on-target performance achieved by the DX+ demonstration pots during their first year of operation at 420 kA. DX+ technology has been selected for the EMAL Phase II project. The project FEED study, completed in June 2011, is based on one potline of 444 DX+ pots. The design allows for an operating amperage increase to 460 kA.