Applying theory to real-world challenges: Young intern helps advance sensor technology at Svanehoj

At Svanehoj, empowering young engineering talent is key to driving new ideas and solutions. One such talent is Hafsa Ezzaaime, a 24-year-old mechanical engineering student from INSA Rouen (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées), who just wrapped up a six-month internship with the R&D and Engineering Team at in Calais.

With a strong academic foundation in design and reliability, Hafsa was entrusted with a complex project at Svanehoj: researching and developing a new position sensor solution for Svanehoj’s Emergency Shutdown Valve (ESV) for gas storage protection.

Hafsa’s task was to research a sensor technology that could detect valve position without requiring major modifications to the existing ESV design, all while meeting strict ATEX certification requirements for explosive environments. This is especially critical in underground cavern installations due to the complexity and difficulty of accessing the valves.

- Svanehoj offered the opportunity to work on this particular project. I was excited and also a bit nervous. I had to learn about the Svanehoj products, the environment, and technologies like LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers), which I had never worked with before, Hafsa explains.

Over the course of the internship, Hafsa researched suppliers, assessed sensor technologies, ran simulations and prepared design calculations, all while navigating complex constraints related to depth, signal reliability, and long operational lifetimes.

Applying theory to real-world challenges

Coming from a background heavy in theory and research, Hafsa found the practical, hands-on environment at Svanehoj both challenging and highly educational. To her, engineering is much more than theory, offering a possibility to utilize academic knowledge of simulations, calculations, and design to apply it to something practical and real-life.

- The support I receive from the team is incredible. I have enjoyed working across the full R&D cycle, from research and concept development to calculation, validation, and qualification. The Svanehoj team guided me, challenged me, and helped me stay on track all along. The atmosphere at Svanehoj is very inclusive. You always feel like you’re part of the team, no matter your experience level, Hafsa says.

According to Quentin Tredez, R&D and Engineering Manager at Svanehoj France, engaging today’s youth and future generations is a key factor in Svanehoj’s ambition to help accelerate the energy transition.

- Internships provide an opportunity to share our values, exchange ideas, and identify individuals who are eager to join us on this important journey, he says.