Principle
A Peltier element and a thermogenerator are similar in design, but they are used for different purposes. The Peltier element consists of a block with many thermocouples, which are electrically connected in series and thermally in parallel, so that their thermoelectric voltages add up. If one side of a thermocouple is colder than the other, an electrical voltage is generated. If a voltage is applied in reverse, a current flows through the element and a temperature difference is created: one side becomes colder, the other warmer. This effect is called Peltier effect.
Benefits
- Part of a system solution - easily expandable for further experiments
- Simple teaching by using the demo board physics
- Clear test execution by using ADM3 multimeters
Learning objectives
- Students learn how a thermocouple works.
- The students observe the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy.