Turbulent flow and heat transfer in an annular geometry have been previously studied experimentally or numerically. Velocity and temperature profiles have been measured and correlations for the wall shear stress and heat transfer have been derived. However there exists no study in turbulent flow for a semiannular geometry. This work aims to study steady and transient convection in a semi-annular test section for a wide range of Reynolds numbers from 10,000 to 60,000, the inner cylinder being heated by Joule effect. The velocity profile in the symmetry plane is measured by Particle Image Velocimetry and the temperature of the inner heated cylinder is measured by infrared thermography. The experimental results are complemented by numerical simulations which give also access to the velocity and temperature profiles in the whole test section. These results are compared to those obtained in an annular geometry for the same inner and outer cylinders radii and an equivalent flow rate. The velocity and temperature profiles and the wall shear stress are the same as in an annular section in an angular sector of p/2 around the symmetry plane. Both velocity and temperature profiles follow a logarithmic law. In steady convection, the local heat transfer has been characterized in several azimuthal positions. The local Nusselt number can be expressed versus a Reynolds number based on the local friction velocity. Characteristic thermal boundary layer thicknesses are also defined. Finally, transient convection tests are performed with a square power generation. The wall heat transfer and the evolution of the liquid temperature near the wall have the same self-similar evolution, with a characteristic time scale, which only depends on the flow Reynolds number.