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An electrolytic cell for reduction of a metal oxide to a metal and oxygen has an inert anode and an upwardly angled roof covering the inert mode. The angled roof diverts oxygen bubbles into an upcomer channel, thereby agitating a molten salt bath in the upcomer channel and improving dissolution of a

An electrolytic cell for reduction of a metal oxide to a metal and oxygen has an inert anode and an upwardly angled roof covering the inert mode. The angled roof diverts oxygen bubbles into an upcomer channel, thereby agitating a molten salt bath in the upcomer channel and improving dissolution of a metal oxide in the molten salt bath. The molten salt bath has a lower velocity adjacent the inert anode in order to minimize corrosion by substances in the bath. A particularly preferred cell produces aluminum by electrolysis of alumina in a molten salt bath containing aluminum fluoride and sodium fluoride.

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[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A process for electrolytic production of a metal in a cell comprising a chamber containing an anode, a cathode and a molten salt bath comprising molten salts and a metal oxide, said anode and said cathode each having a first end portion adjacent a downcomer channel and a

[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A process for electrolytic production of a metal in a cell comprising a chamber containing an anode, a cathode and a molten salt bath comprising molten salts and a metal oxide, said anode and said cathode each having a first end portion adjacent a downcomer channel and a second end portion adjacent an upcomer channel, said process comprising:(a) electrolyzing said metal oxide by passing an electric current between said anode and said cathode to form a metal at said cathode and oxygen bubbles at said anode, said oxygen bubbles rising in said molten salt bath;(b) diverting said oxygen bubbles toward said second end portion of by means of a roof angled upwardly from said first end portion toward said second end portion, said oxygen bubbles agitating said molten salt bath in said upcomer channel; and(c) introducing a metal oxide into the agitated molten salt bath in said upcomer channel.