This study presents a novel self-adaptive marine current power generation system capable of operating efficiently across a wide range of flow velocities. The key innovations include an adaptive variable-solidity rotor and a non-contact magnetic speed-increasing dynamic seal. The rotor employs foldable blades that enable passive solidity regulation in response to varying inflow conditions. At low flow velocities, the blades remain deployed, increasing rotor solidity and reducing the required startup flow velocity. Water tank experiments indicate that the minimum startup velocity of the variable-solidity rotor is 0.217 m/s, which represents a 38% reduction compared to a conventional rotor. At high flow velocities, the blades fold under increased hydrodynamic loading, thereby reducing the effective solidity and suppressing torque growth to provide overload protection. The power transmission module incorporates a non-contact magnetic speed-increasing dynamic seal, which ensures underwater dynamic sealing of the main shaft while simultaneously increasing the rotational speed of the driven shaft. Motor-driven bench tests demonstrate that when the active shaft speed remains below the cut-off threshold, a stable speed-increasing ratio of 2:1 is maintained, enabling effective speed amplification and torque transmission. Once the active shaft speed exceeds the cut-off threshold, the driven shaft automatically stalls, thereby preventing motor overload. Overall, this work provides an effective solution for enhancing the operational adaptability and transmission reliability of marine current energy conversion systems under variable flow conditions.
To address dependence on external power and the limited capability of conventional hydroelectric units to detect low-amplitude vibrations, this work introduces a self-contained, highly accurate monitoring device. The design incorporates a magnetically levitated configuration, with triboelectric films placed on both the upper and lower faces of the floating magnet. Under minor oscillations, magnetic repulsion increases the relative displacement between the friction layers, producing a substantial voltage that permits low-level vibration sensing. A surrounding induction coil responds to the levitated pole’s vertical motion; this motion intersects the magnetic flux, generating a current that provides stable energy for wireless data transmission. Experimental outcomes confirm a detection limit of 0.1 mm. At an amplitude of 1 mm and a load of 1000 Ω, the system achieves a maximum output of 9 mW and a power density of 1.587 W/m2, ensuring reliable power. This configuration provides a new pathway for monitoring vibrations in hydroelectric turbine generators.