Reversible Thermoelectric Demonstrator

A fascinating demonstration of the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.

Bring the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics to life using this reversible device that can act as a refrigerator or a heat engine. Immerse the two aluminum legs in baths of different temperatures, and produce electrical energy that turns the turbine! Unplug the banana jacks and measure the voltage output with a multimeter.

This device is reversible! Connect a battery or DC power source to the two jacks. One leg will heat up while the other cools down. Measure the efficiency of this device and compare it to the Carnot Efficiency. Show energy conversions in action!