Downs cell


Downs cell

[′dau̇nz ‚sel] (chemical engineering) A brick-lined steel vessel with four graphite anodes projecting upward from the bottom, with cathodes in the form of steel cylinders concentric with the anodes, containing an electrolyte which is 40% sodium chloride (NaCl) and 60% calcium chloride (CaCl2) at 590°C; used to make sodium.