Abstract: There are big temperature differences at different positions on the first walls facing the plasma in Tokamak device. Free convection experiments of liquid metal on the vertical wall are carried out under the influence of transverse magnetic field. In the experiments, K thermocouple is used to measure the temperatures of the environment and the both sides of the wall, and the flow boundary layer velocity of the wall is measured using a Doppler ultrasonic velocimeter.The experimental results show that the local heat transfer coefficient of the vertical plate is inversely proportional to the characteristic length, while the enhanced heating power increases the surface heat transfer coefficient. Under the condition of the strong magnetic field, the flow and heat transfer effect of the wall boundary layer are generally inhibited. However, in the weak magnetic field, increasing the magnetic field will enhance the effect of free convection and heat transfer on the surface of the plate. Based on the experimental results and existing simulation results, this turning point appears in the N range 1-4.

Key words: liquid metal, free convection, uniform magnetic field, UDV