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How did the Downs cell improve sodium production?

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A labeled diagram shows the periodic table entry for sodium, highlighting its symbol Na, atomic number 11, atomic weight, electron configuration, physical state as a solid, body-centered cubic crystal structure, and strongly basic oxide properties.
sodium

The Downs cell significantly improved the industrial production of sodium by replacing the earlier Castner process in 1926.1

While the Castner process relied on the continuous electrolysis of sodium hydroxide, the Downs cell utilizes a mixture of molten sodium chloride and calcium chloride. The addition of calcium chloride is a critical innovation because it lowers the melting point of the electrolyte, making the process more efficient. Furthermore, the Downs cell is advantageous because it produces both sodium metal and chlorine as valuable products. These improvements reduced the overall cost of sodium production, allowing the element to be used economically in a wide range of industrial applications, including the manufacture of gasoline additives, nylon, and various pharmaceuticals.1