DX+ Ultra Industrial Version: Preheat Start Up and Early Operation

Five DX+ Ultra Technology demonstration pots were started in EGA in Jebel Ali in 2014 at 450 kA and operated at increased amperages up to 460 kA until March 2017. In view of ALBA Potline 6 project, EGA decided to stop the five demonstration pots with the objectives of validating the industrial busbar design and fabrication, carrying out full autopsies to assess lining condition at an average age of 1100 days, building new industrial linings, and fine tuning the industrial operation procedures for new and restart pots. Two pots were restarted with the old lining and three pots were rebuilt and started with new industrial lining design. On these three pots, the preheat, start up and early operation procedures planned for ALBA Potline 6 were implemented with the objective of minimum energy consumption and elimination of anode effects during the start-up and early operation; the results of these three pots are presented in the paper.