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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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This “Fish” Can Generate Electricity From Slow-Moving River Water

Rivers contain an enormous amount of kinetic energy. Every second, flowing water carries energy that could potentially be converted into electricity. Hydroelectric power plants already use this principle on a large scale, but they usually require strong water flow, large infrastructure, dams, or turbines.

Harvesting energy from slow-moving water is much more difficult. At low flow speeds, conventional turbines and generators become inefficient because there is not enough force to drive them effectively. This creates a major challenge for developing small, decentralized systems that can generate electricity directly from natural rivers and streams.

To address this problem, Qi Gao and his research team have developed a new device inspired by the movement and shape of fish. Called the bionic fish-shaped triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid generator (BF-TEHG), the system is designed to capture energy even when river water is moving relatively slowly.

Why Slow Water Flow Is Difficult to Harvest

Water flowing through rivers and streams constantly possesses kinetic energy. The faster the water moves, the more energy is available for harvesting.

However, many natural waterways have relatively low flow velocities. Conventional water turbines typically perform better when water moves quickly enough to produce sufficient torque and rotation.

This means that installing traditional turbine systems in every small river or stream is not always practical.

Researchers are therefore exploring alternative technologies that can work with low-speed water movement. Instead of relying entirely on continuous rotation, these systems can convert small movements, oscillations, or vibrations into electricity.

The BF-TEHG takes this approach one step further by combining two different energy-generation mechanisms with a structure inspired by fish.

Inspired by the Movement of Fish

Fish have evolved to move efficiently through water. Their streamlined bodies allow them to interact with flowing water while their flexible movements help them travel even when conditions change.

The researchers used this biological concept to design the BF-TEHG.

The device has a fish-like shape that allows it to interact effectively with flowing water. Rather than simply resisting the current, the structure is designed to respond to the water's movement and convert that motion into useful mechanical movement.

A key feature of the design is its two-stage swing mechanism.

When water flows around the device, it causes the fish-shaped structure to swing. The two-stage mechanism amplifies and transfers this movement, helping the generator make better use of the relatively small amount of energy available in slow-moving water.

This is particularly important because even small improvements in mechanical motion can make a significant difference when harvesting energy from low-speed flows.

Two Ways to Generate Electricity

The BF-TEHG combines triboelectric and electromagnetic power generation in a single system.

Triboelectric generators produce electricity through interactions between different materials. When two materials repeatedly come into contact and separate, electrical charges can develop on their surfaces. The resulting charge movement can be collected as electrical energy.

Electromagnetic generators work differently. They typically use relative movement between a magnet and a coil to produce an electrical current through electromagnetic induction.

By combining these two mechanisms, the researchers created a hybrid generator capable of extracting energy through complementary electrical-generation processes.

This approach can potentially improve the overall energy-harvesting capability compared with relying on only one mechanism.

It Works at Surprisingly Low Flow Speeds

One of the most notable features of the BF-TEHG is its ability to operate under very low water-flow conditions.

According to the researchers, the device can operate at a minimum flow velocity of approximately 0.24 meters per second.

That is important because natural rivers and streams do not always maintain high flow speeds. A device capable of responding to slower water movement could therefore open opportunities for energy harvesting in locations where conventional turbine-based systems would struggle.

The researchers also investigated how different motion parameters influence the electrical performance of the device. Understanding these parameters is essential because the amount and frequency of movement directly affect how much electricity can be generated.

By optimizing the mechanical motion, the system can extract more useful energy from the same water flow.

More Power at Higher Flow Velocity

The generator demonstrated significantly greater electrical output as the water-flow velocity increased.

In simulated river environments with a flow velocity of 0.98 m/s, the triboelectric unit produced a peak power of approximately 0.55 milliwatts.

At the same flow velocity, the electromagnetic unit produced a peak power of approximately 0.34 milliwatts.

Although these power levels are small compared with those produced by large hydroelectric power plants, the goal of such a device is different.

The BF-TEHG is intended for small-scale and distributed energy harvesting, particularly for applications where only modest amounts of electricity are required.

For example, small sensors used to monitor water conditions may not need large amounts of continuous power. A compact generator that can continuously harvest energy from the surrounding environment could help reduce dependence on batteries.

Designed to Survive Underwater

Another important challenge for water-energy harvesting devices is durability.

A generator placed inside a river must continuously withstand water exposure. Materials can degrade, electrical components can lose performance, and repeated mechanical movement can eventually cause damage.

The researchers tested the BF-TEHG by immersing it in water for 40 days.

Remarkably, the device maintained its electrical performance without a noticeable reduction.

This result suggests that the generator has strong water-immersion durability, an important characteristic for devices designed to remain in aquatic environments for extended periods.

Long-term durability is particularly valuable for remote monitoring systems, where frequently removing a device for maintenance or battery replacement may be inconvenient.

Potential for Water Monitoring

One of the most interesting applications of the BF-TEHG is environmental monitoring.

Rivers are constantly changing. Their flow velocity can vary because of rainfall, seasonal changes, upstream conditions, and other environmental factors.

Small sensors could potentially be deployed in rivers to monitor parameters such as water flow conditions. Instead of depending entirely on replaceable batteries, these sensors could use energy harvested from the water itself.

The generator could therefore become part of a self-powered monitoring system, where the surrounding environment provides the energy required for sensing and data collection.

Such technology could be especially useful in remote locations where access to electricity is limited.

A Different Approach to Hydropower

The BF-TEHG does not attempt to replace conventional hydropower plants. Large hydroelectric systems remain much more powerful and are designed for large-scale electricity generation.

Instead, this technology addresses a different problem: how to harvest small amounts of energy from water that is moving too slowly or is unsuitable for conventional turbines.

Its fish-inspired structure, two-stage swing mechanism, and combination of triboelectric and electromagnetic generation provide a new strategy for extracting energy from low-speed water.

The ability to operate at only 0.24 m/s, while maintaining performance after prolonged water immersion, makes the concept particularly interesting for small-scale applications.

The Future of River-Based Energy Harvesting

The BF-TEHG demonstrates how combining biomimicry, mechanical engineering, and multiple energy-generation technologies can help overcome limitations in renewable-energy harvesting.

Instead of forcing slow-moving water to drive a conventional turbine, the system is designed to work with the natural movement of water. Its fish-like structure interacts with the flow, the two-stage mechanism converts that interaction into useful motion, and the triboelectric and electromagnetic units transform the mechanical movement into electricity.

While its output is currently suited to low-power applications rather than household electricity generation, the concept could become valuable for powering sensors and other small electronic systems in rivers and streams.

Ultimately, the research points toward a future where even slow-moving water can become a useful source of clean, continuous energy—not necessarily by building bigger turbines, but by designing smarter devices that can capture energy from subtle movements in nature.

Reference: Qi Gao, Zhaoxu Jing, Yushan Sun, Sheng Zhang, Chengjie Gu, Lixiang Ma, Hengyu Li, Jianming Wen, Xiaojun Cheng, Tinghai Cheng; Bionic Fish-Shaped Triboelectric-Electromagnetic Hybrid Generator via a Two-Stage Swing Mechanism for Water Flow Energy Harvesting and Condition Monitoring. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10 January 2024; 16 (1): 569–575. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c13690

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