Magnetic Control of Convection in Liquid Metal Heated from Above

We investigated experimentally the buoyancy driven convection induced by localized central heating from above in cylindrical tanks filled with liquid metal eutectic alloy (low-Prandtl-number liquid). The experiments were carried out for two aspect ratios A = (radius/height) = 4.125 and 0.333. Time-averaged local temperature distributions and radial and azimuthal velocity components in the liquid at different distances from heater axis were measured. It is shown that maximum temperature gradient is centered in vicinity heater. Temperature difference in radial direction creates pressure gradient between heater and cold wall regions. This gradient leads to upraising of liquid nearly heater and…