Automated re-melt control systems

A method for thermal management of a pipeline, comprising:

• recording, with a sensor network at the pipeline, pipeline data for the pipeline;
• receiving, by a controller, pipeline data recorded by a sensor network configured to monitor one or more characteristics of the pipeline, the one or more characteristics including a temperature of a process fluid in the pipeline;
• identifying, by the controller, that the pipeline data includes a latent heat signature associated with a phase change of the process fluid by:
• extracting temperature data for a time period from the sensor network;
• and
• comparing the extracted temperature data to latent heat signature data that is stored in the memory and that represents the latent heat signature;
• and
• automatically initiating, by the controller, a process to resolve a plug of the pipeline using a heating system.

A system comprising:

• a sensor network configured to record temperature data for a pipeline, the temperature data including temperature measurements for locations along the pipeline over time;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the sensor network, the controller comprising a processor and memory storing specific computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:
• receive the temperature data from the sensor network;
• and
• determine that there is a plug in the pipeline by identifying in the temperature data a latent heat signature of a phase change of the process fluid in the pipeline via comparison of the temperature data to latent heat signature data stored in the memory, wherein the latent heat signature data represents the latent heat signature.