A method for detecting and controlling the elemental sulfur deposition on
pressure reducing gas fuel control valves in cases where the sulfur
deposition results from a temperature drop during expansion across the
control valve, such as that encountered in gas turbine engines. The
control method and algorithm according to the invention uses measured
parameters of gas flow rate, pressure and temperature, combined with
known pressure reducing valve characteristics to first determine whether
sulfur deposition has occurred, and thereafter to calculate a valve
position control parameter used to control the gas temperature upstream
of the control valve, thereby maintaining the sulfur in a vapor phase
through the pressure reducing process and preventing subsequent sulfur
deposition on the valve and downstream piping.