How to transform, with a capacitor, thermal energy into usable work

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity is taken into account to study the energy change in a capacitor that follows a cycle between a cold and a hot thermal reservoirs. There is a net energy gain in the process that, in principle, can be transformed into usable work. The article is simple enough as to be used with keen undergraduates that have taken a university general physics or thermodynamics course. Further experimental work and a possible technological application are suggested.