Talented intern innovates in ESV redesign project

At Svanehøj, nurturing young talent is a driving force that enhances our innovation. One example is our intern Lucas Masset, a 22-year-old engineering student from Arts et Métiers ParisTech.

Over the last two and a half months, Lucas has worked closely with the R&D team at Svanehøj Tank Control Systems in Calais, France. The task at hand for Lucas was to help redesign an existing pneumatic emergency shut off valve (ESV) for LPG tanks to meet new market demands, particularly to be used for trucks.

For Lucas, the experience has been rewarding.

- While many students in similar internships find themselves doing minor tasks, I have been trusted with responsibility and have taken a significant part in a project development process. I was thrilled when Svanehøj offered me the chance to be directly involved in the development of a new concept for the pneumatic ESV. It is rare for an intern to be given this much trust and responsibility right from the start, Lucas Masset says.

Redesign based on customer demands

The pneumatic ESV that Lucas has been working on has been in the market for more than 15 years. While it shares many similarities with the other ESVs in the Svanehøj catalog, the key difference lies in its operational mechanism. Unlike its hydraulically driven counterparts, that rely on oil pressure to open the valve, the pneumatic ESV uses air pressure for the same purpose.

The pneumatic valves offer considerable advantages, particularly for applications in trucks and trains. Since these vehicles are already equipped with compressors to generate air pressure, there will be no need to install a separate system to manage oil pressure. This integration simplifies the overall system, reduces costs, and enhances reliability by utilizing the existing infrastructure on the vehicle.

Svanehøj has previously halted the production of the original valve, but customer demands for a new, truck-specific version prompted Svanehøj to revisit the design.

“The best first experience with a job”

During his internship, Lucas successfully created a prototype of the new valve design, using 3D printing technology. Before ending the internship, he presented the design to the entire team. Currently, the product has moved to a testing phase to get the appropriate certifications for trucks.

Now, Lucas returns to school with hands-on experience in engineering and project management. Reflecting on his experience at Svanehøj, Lucas highlights the value of applying theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Looking towards the future, he is eager to continue his journey at Svanehøj.

 - This has been the best first experience with a job. The team at Svanehøj has been a huge support, and I have been fully included in every step of the process. This experience here at Svanehøj has provided me with a broad spectrum of engineering and project development skills. Now, I go back to school to keep building my knowledge, but I hope my Svanehøj adventure will continue in the future, Lucas says.