Automotive supplier Mahle models bionics A/C system after penguin fin

When experts in the automotive industry put their heads together, sometimes interesting concepts arise – including a bionics-optimized air conditioning system modeled after a penguin fin – the work of a German car parts manufacturer Mahle.

As it happens, Mahle has developed a bionic design in which the penguin fin serves as a model for the new product design of the radial blower in its air conditioners and is suitable for a variety of challenging settings, including electric vehicles (EV), the company said in a press release on April 21.

What the penguin fin-inspired A/C blower does

Specifically, the breakthrough technology, with its aerodynamic blades inspired by the fins of a penguin gliding swiftly and quickly through the water, significantly reduces sound output to a mere four decibels (dB) – by 60% compared with similar fanning systems.

Simultaneously, the bionic radial blower improves efficiency by 15% because the innovative design reduces the burden on the motor. Moreover, it can fit in all passenger car classes as well as in light and heavy-duty commercial vehicles thanks to its space-saving shape and positioning in front of the evaporator.

Indeed, as Dr. Uli Christian Blessing, Vice President of R&D Thermal and Fluid Systems at MAHLE, explained:

“Evolution has equipped the penguin with fins that allow it to glide through the water with minimal resistance and, therefore, ultrahigh efficiency. The fin shape served as a model in the optimization process of the impeller of our radial blower.”

At the same time, the design also relies on the company’s expertise in thermal management and advances in artificial intelligence (AI), according to Jumana Al-Sibai, a member of the MAHLE Group Management Board and responsible for the Thermal and Fluid Systems business unit.

In the words of Dr. Blessing:

“The application of artificial intelligence has been enormously useful in the optimization of the bionic radial blower. Our engineers guided the AI and provided it with data and information, enabling it to create more than 30 million virtual designs in a very short time. (…) Internally, we are referring to this as ‘superhuman engineering’.” 

Meanwhile, other automotive giants continue to work on improving the designs for vehicles of the future, including Hyundai Mobis, which has created an EV battery that can extinguish itself if on fire, and Porsche developing an all-in-one AC-powered battery.

Featured image courtesy of Mahle website and press release.