A Thermodynamic Cycle for Heat to Electrical Energy Conversion by Means of Ferroelectrics

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Scientific Paper
Title A Thermodynamic Cycle for Heat to Electrical Energy Conversion by Means of Ferroelectrics
Author(s) Andreas Ries
Keywords capacitance, Curie temperature, electrocaloric effect, heat recovery
Published 2004
Journal Electric Spacecraft Journal
Number 38
Pages 9-12

Abstract

A thermodynamic cycle transforms heat to electrical energy using ferroelectric materials. An expression for the electrocaloric effect may be derived from the laws of thermodynamics and electricity. From this, another derivation shows that a capacitor filled with a ferroelectric medium can be nonlinear with dC/dV > 0; i.e., the capacitance rises with an increase in voltage. This nonlinearity is essential for the thermodynamic cycle.