In one embodiment, a pipeline interchange flows a product through an upstream pipeline. An automated analyzer is connected to the upstream pipeline, wherein the automated analyzer analyzes a sample of the product, and wherein the analyzer is capable of analyzing different physical and/or chemical characteristics of the product and generating a data sample. An automatic splitter is then placed downstream of the automated slipstream analyzer. In this embodiment, the automatic splitter is capable of receiving and interpreting the data sample from the automated analyzer and directing the product into at least three different downstream pipelines, wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines is a transmix pipeline and wherein at least one of the downstream pipelines returns the product upstream of the automated analyzer.

The invention relates to a backfeeding installation (30) which comprises: modules (31 to 35 and 37) comprising the following functions: at least one compressor for compressing gas, an automaton for controlling the operation of at least one compressor, at least one sensor for checking the quality compliance of the gas circulating in the compressor, at least one meter for metering a flow rate of gas circulating in the compressor, and at least one filter for filtering the gas circulating in the compressor; and an interconnection module (36A, 36B) for interconnection between the other modules and with a gas network (15) at a first pressure and a gas network (10) at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. At least one of these modules is mobile and configured to be transported, in its entirety and operational by means of a removable connection to the interconnection module and to a power source, on a single vehicle.

The invention relates to a backfeeding installation (30) which comprises: modules (31 to 35 and 37) comprising the following functions: at least one compressor for compressing gas, an automaton for controlling the operation of at least one compressor, at least one sensor for checking the quality compliance of the gas circulating in the compressor, at least one meter for metering a flow rate of gas circulating in the compressor, and at least one filter for filtering the gas circulating in the compressor; and an interconnection module (36A, 36B) for interconnection between the other modules and with a gas network (15) at a first pressure and a gas network (10) at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. At least one of these modules is mobile and configured to be transported, in its entirety and operational by means of a removable connection to the interconnection module and to a power source, on a single vehicle.

Improved systems and techniques are disclosed for controlling the security states of anti-theft security systems such as product display assemblies using security fobs. The tasks relating to fob authentication are offloaded to a computer system, and these authentications can be based on identifiers for the different security fobs. The interactions between security fobs and product display assemblies can be consistent regardless of the population of authorized security fobs by using a security code that is shared by the security fobs. When attempting to use a security fob to change a security status for a product display assembly, the provision of the code to the subject product display assembly can be predicated on authorization of the subject security fob by the computer system. The computer system can maintain a list of identifiers for authorized security fobs that is easily updated when new security fobs are added to or existing security fobs are de-authorized from the system.

Improved systems and techniques are disclosed for controlling the security states of anti-theft security systems such as product display assemblies using security fobs. The tasks relating to fob authentication are offloaded to a computer system, and these authentications can be based on identifiers for the different security fobs. The interactions between security fobs and product display assemblies can be consistent regardless of the population of authorized security fobs by using a security code that is shared by the security fobs. When attempting to use a security fob to change a security status for a product display assembly, the provision of the code to the subject product display assembly can be predicated on authorization of the subject security fob by the computer system. The computer system can maintain a list of identifiers for authorized security fobs that is easily updated when new security fobs are added to or existing security fobs are de-authorized from the system.

A flow management system includes an expandable device that is configured for attachment to a wall surface of a conduit and that is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The flow management system further includes a fluidic actuator in fluid communication with the expandable device and a control module. The control module is configured to control the fluidic actuator to deliver actuation fluid to the expandable device to expand the expandable device for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage and to withdraw actuation fluid from the expandable device to collapse the expandable device for opening the channel to a fluid flow within the conduit.

A flow management system includes an expandable device that is configured for attachment to a wall surface of a conduit and that is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The flow management system further includes a fluidic actuator in fluid communication with the expandable device and a control module. The control module is configured to control the fluidic actuator to deliver actuation fluid to the expandable device to expand the expandable device for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage and to withdraw actuation fluid from the expandable device to collapse the expandable device for opening the channel to a fluid flow within the conduit.

Methods and systems for optimizing pipeline operation are disclosed, including an operating system for optimizing a pipeline objective for a pipeline system comprising a plurality of pipeline sections, the operating system comprising a controller configured to: (i) generate a current state of at least one section of the pipeline, the current state comprising the measured state of at least one pipeline object and at least one fluid object; (ii) generate a line fill; (iii) generate a predicted future state of the at least one section of the pipeline from the line fill, and a schedule of planned additions of fluids and planned flow rates; (iv) generate an optimized future state of the at least one section of the pipeline with an optimization function; and (v) determine one or more setpoints to implement the optimized future state.

Methods and systems for optimizing pipeline operation are disclosed, including an operating system for optimizing a pipeline objective for a pipeline system comprising a plurality of pipeline sections, the operating system comprising a controller configured to: (i) generate a current state of at least one section of the pipeline, the current state comprising the measured state of at least one pipeline object and at least one fluid object; (ii) generate a line fill; (iii) generate a predicted future state of the at least one section of the pipeline from the line fill, and a schedule of planned additions of fluids and planned flow rates; (iv) generate an optimized future state of the at least one section of the pipeline with an optimization function; and (v) determine one or more setpoints to implement the optimized future state.

Devices, methods, and systems for operating gas meters are described herein. The systems may include a gas meter connectable to a gas line, where the gas meter may have a metrology unit in communication with a flow of gas through the gas line and an index unit in communication with and releasably coupled to the metrology unit. The metrology unit may be configured to generate flow rate data of the flow through the gas line based on outputs from a flow rate sensor, generate gas temperature data based on outputs from a temperature sensor, compensate the flow rate data based on the temperature data, generate an average flow rate, and output the average flow rate data to the index unit. The index unit may generate gas volume data based on flow rate data received from the metrology unit.