Industrial Network Diagnostics to Ensure Water Purity and System Stability

Industrial network diagnostics play a critical role in maintaining clean water supply by ensuring stable operation of water treatment systems, enabling early detection of connectivity issues, and minimizing the risk of disruptions. This enhances monitoring efficiency within modern IIoT environments.

1. Business Challenges

A Water Authority operating multiple wastewater treatment systems experienced recurring issues within its PROFIBUS network but lacked the ability to diagnose network problems early. When a valve controller failed, the entire aeration process stopped unexpectedly, disrupting the biological treatment process.

The absence of proactive network diagnostics prevented early fault detection before incidents occurred. This resulted in unplanned system downtime, negatively impacted treatment bacteria, and created significant pressure on the operations team.

2. Main Cause

The main cause was related to EMC issues that damaged electronic devices on the PROFIBUS network. During network diagnostics, technicians discovered that a PROFIBUS cable had deteriorated due to weather exposure and did not meet the required standards for the actual operating environment. The degraded cable led to unstable signal transmission between two control valves, causing interruptions and sudden system shutdowns.

3. Proposed Solution: Industrial Network Diagnostics

To prevent recurring incidents, the Water Authority deployed the ComBricks module to enable continuous monitoring of the PROFIBUS network. Integrating ComBricks into the system allowed the organization to proactively monitor signal conditions, detect anomalies early, and respond immediately when alerts occur. After installation, the PROFIBUS network became stable with no further faults reported, and the solution was subsequently adopted as a standard for new project

Solution summary:

• Install ComBricks modules for 24/7 PROFIBUS network monitoring.

• Direct connection to critical control clusters such as blowers and aeration tank power systems.

• Proactive alerting and faster response to incidents.

• Long-term network stabilization and standardized deployment across new projects.

4. Benefits Achieved

• Transform the PROFIBUS network from reactive to proactive - enabling automatic monitoring and early warning before failures occur.

• Maintain the “heartbeat” of aeration tanks, minimizing oxygen interruption risks and protecting biological treatment processes.

• Reduce troubleshooting time significantly through clear, real-time diagnostic data.

• Stabilize overall network operations, reduce pressure on engineering teams, and minimize emergency maintenance.

• Establish a standardized foundation for future projects, enabling easier and more consistent system expansion.

5. Aucontech Industrial Network Diagnostics Solution

Aucontech provides a comprehensive industrial network diagnostics solution based on Anybus Network Diagnostics, widely deployed across industries such as F&B (beverage production), manufacturing (automotive components), and environmental monitoring systems. The solution enables businesses to proactively detect faults, monitor network conditions 24/7, and ensure stable production line operation.

When choosing Aucontech’s industrial network diagnostics solution, customers benefit from:

• A complete package including devices, systems, and full technical support.

• In-depth consulting focused on cost optimization and operational efficiency.

• Powerful diagnostic technology that reduces downtime risks and improves industrial network reliability.

• Scalability across multiple factory models and communication standards.