Thorburn Australia engineers are experts with automation and control system projects! With professional programmers and real-world process control experience, we believe our capabilities are second to none.

From providing slick, user friendly operator interfaces to hard core complex control algorithms we can do it all. We have experience in a wide range of control systems for chemical plant, power, water, waste water and material handling applications.

Thorburn Australia are system integrators for Schneider and Rockwell and have the tools for all types of systems including:

• Quantum, M580, TSX, 984, 484
• AB Logix, SLC5, PLC5
• Siemens S5, S7
• Citect, ClearSCADA
• Miri, Kingfisher, SCADAPacks
• System 6, Infi-90, Conductor

We can design, build, integrate, commission and optimise your entire process control system.

Electrical power distribution can range from a simple light and power board to an MCC or entire plant wide supply system.

Many considerations need to be designed for including:

• Network Configuration
• Load Flows
• Voltage Drops
• Fault Currents
• Protection
• Earthing
• Arc Fault Considerations

This is particularly difficult with continually changing loads as experienced in underground mining.

Thorburn Australia engineers have many years experienced in designing distribution systems from 24Vdc to 11kV. We are trained in software used by many of our larger clients including SKM Powertools.

Thorburn Australia can evaluate and design your power system. For safe, trouble free operation let us help you design your next project.

Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s) are a common feature of modern industry. In most installations where an induction motor speed needs to be controlled, an AC VSD will be used.

Modern VSD’s utilise complex techniques that can provide many benefits such as:

• Speed & torque control
• Energy savings
• High starting torques
• Regneration

Due to the nature of the electrical waveforms generated by these appliances, many factors must be considered.

Factors such as line and load side harmonics, EMF, motor heating, torque production can all be affected using a VSD.

Thorburn Australia engineers have experience designing, building and commissioning VSD systems from small LV drives up to high voltage, high power large scale drives.

Whether it’s a small pump station or an overland conveyor system, Thorburn Australia can help you.

Hazardous areas refer to an area where an explosive atmosphere can be present, or may be expected to be present.

Examples include petrol stations, spray paint shops, sewerage treatment plants, refineries and major processing facilities, grain or coal handling facilities.

The owner of a hazardous area must ensure any electrical installation meets the required safety standards and is audited by an accredited auditor.

Penalties for non-compliance include up to $1,000,000 in fines or three year’s imprisonment.

Thorburn Australia has qualified hazardous area designers and can formally audit installations to ensure your installation meets Queensland lawful requirements.

Ensure your company complies by using Thorburn Australia to asses, classify, design and audit your Hazardous Area installations.

Hazardous Area Auditor License 02/0224.

A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) is a structured and systematic examination of a complex process to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment.

A CHAZOP (Control System HAZOP) uses the same methodology as a HAZOP except that it is focused on the control system aspects of a process such as architectures, communications, safety integrity and system failures.

A HAZOP or CHAZOP is recognized as a formal safety assessment tool to control the process risks to an acceptable level.

Thorburn Australia practices the HAZOP process to develop safe and operable systems for many varied clients.

With backgrounds in Functional Safety, Hazardous Areas and Safety Instrumented Systems, Thorburn Australia uses the HAZOP procedure as a guide to these requirements.

Ensure your plant is designed safely and efficiently with the assistance Thorburn Australia.

Machinery and process plants have developed into complex systems relying heavily on instruments and the electrical systems to provide safety functions.

On March 23, 2005 in Texas City, USA, an instrument failure in a chemical plant led to an explosion killing 14 people.

These types of incidents are not always as disastrous, but they can and will occur. Instruments fail, actuators don’t operate, alarms are ignored, operators don’t react or contactors weld closed. The list of possible failures is endless. Designing for functional safety ensures you meet the required safety integrity and comply with the latest standards including AS61511 for process industries and AS4024 for machinery.

TÜV Rheinland is one of the world’s most trusted certifiers of functional safety equipment, systems and training.

Ensure your plant is designed correctly with the assistance of TÜV certified engineers from Thorburn Australia.

Solar networks larger than 30kW require special regulations under the National Electricity Rules.

Typically, businesses wishing to use solar power above 30kW will apply for a non-exporting connection.

This type of connection does not require customers to be classified as a generator and be registered with the Australian Energy Market Operator.

A specific set of conditions are then required by the electricity network operator to ensure the installation will not supply on to the grid. Compliance checks must be performed for:

• Technical requirements
• Performance standards
• Connection arrangement
• Control & Protection
• Power quality

Thorburn Australia has provided audits and compliance checks for our clients to ensure they meet the required standards and can confidently apply for their connection.

Commissioning is often the most dangerous phase for projects.

During this period, isolations are removed, energy sources are applied and equipment is made operational.

Due to the uncertain nature of the commissioning process, things don’t always go as planned.

Typically, machinery will not function as required, installation mistakes will have been made during construction and setpoints, parameters and loops will need to be tuned.

Thorburn Australia engineers have many years of commissioning experience in the field and have encountered all manner of faults, errors and abnormal operations.

We have commissioned projects from small pump stations to major conveyor systems and chemical processes with zero safety incidents.

For safe, trouble free operation let us help you commission your next project.