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A system and method for using reluctance torque or a combination of both reluctance and reaction torque components of an attached synchronous machine (102) to accelerate a prime mover (116), such as a gas turbine engine, within a desired start time. The system selects a mode of starting operation, a

A system and method for using reluctance torque or a combination of both reluctance and reaction torque components of an attached synchronous machine (102) to accelerate a prime mover (116), such as a gas turbine engine, within a desired start time. The system selects a mode of starting operation, and thereafter applies reluctance torque through a synchronous machine (102) armature winding (102A) excitation as a single, sufficient starting force in a first mode, or staged reluctance and reaction torque through the additional excitation of the synchronous machine (102) field winding (102B) excitation in a second mode, using existing power electronics and controls.

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1. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator to apply a torque to a prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said method comprising:selecting a first or second starting mode, said first mode comprising applying a reluctance torque output from a synchronous starter

1. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator to apply a torque to a prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said method comprising:selecting a first or second starting mode, said first mode comprising applying a reluctance torque output from a synchronous starter/generator to a prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said second mode comprising applying a reluctance torque output from said synchronous starter/generator to said prime mover in a first stage, and applying at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output from said synchronous starter/generator to said prime mover in a second stage until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, and in response to said selection; controlling said synchronous starter/generator in said first mode to produce a reluctance torque output and applying said reluctance torque output to said prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining; and controlling said synchronous starter/generator in said second mode to produce at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output and applying said at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output to said prime mover in said first and second stage until said prime mover is substantially self sustaining. 2. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling said synchronous starter/generator in said first mode comprises:controlling a plural phase converter to apply a first modulated signal to an armature winding of said starter/generator in said first mode, and in response, controlling said starter/generator to produce said reluctance torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said first modulated signal having a terminal voltage Park vector and a current Park vector comprising a q-axis and a d-axis current vector component; and controlling a floating frame controller to generate a current Park control vector, and use said current Park control vector to control said plural phase converter during modulation of said first modulated signal. 3. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controlling said synchronous starter/generator in said first mode further comprises:controlling said plural phase converter to maintain a load angle at a first angle value in said first mode, said load angle comprising an angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said first modulated signal. 4. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first angle value in said first mode is selectable to maximize said reluctance torque output.5. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first angle value in said first mode is 45 electrical degrees.6. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first angle value in said first mode is maintained at a fixed angle with respect to a first rotor position of said synchronous starter/generator.7. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling said synchronous starter/generator in said second mode comprises:controlling a plural phase converter to apply a second modulated signal to an armature winding of said starter/generator in said first and second stages of said second mode, and in response, controlling said starter/generator to produce said reluctance torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover during said first and second stages, said second modulated signal having a terminal voltage Park vector and a current Park vector comprising a q-axis and a d-axis current vector component; and controlling an exciter circuit to apply a third signal to a field winding of said starter/generator in said second stage of said second mode, and in response controlling said starter/generator to produce said reaction torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover during said second stage until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining; and controlling a floating frame controller to generate a current Park control vector in a synchronous reference frame, and use said current Park control vector to control said plural phase converter during modulation of said second modulated signal. 8. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said controlling said plural phase converter for said first and second stage comprises:controlling said three phase power converter to maintain a load angle at a second angle value in said second mode while said synchronous starter/generator operates below a first rotational speed value, said load angle comprising an angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said second modulated signal; and controlling said three phase power converter to adjust said second angle value to maximize torque production while said synchronous starter/generator operates at or above said first rotational speed. 9. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first rotational speed value in said second mode is selectable.10. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second angle value in said second mode is selectable to maximize said reluctance torque output.11. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second angle value in said second mode is 45 electrical degrees.12. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said controlling said plural phase converter for said first and second stage comprises:controlling said three phase power converter to maintain a load angle at a third angle value in said second mode until a required terminal voltage value of said synchronous starter/generator exceeds a maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter, said load angle comprising the angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said second modulated signal; and controlling said three phase power converter to adjust said third angle value to maintain said required terminal voltage value at or below said maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter when said required terminal voltage value of said synchronous starter/generator exceeds said maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter. 13. A method of using a synchronous starter/generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second stages of said second mode can overlap.14. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, comprising:a first controller, adapted to select a first or second starting mode, said first mode comprising applying a reluctance torque output from a synchronous starter/generator to a prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said second mode comprising applying a reluctance torque output from said synchronous starter/generator to said prime mover in a first stage, and applying at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output from said synchronous starter/generator to said prime mover in a second stage until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining; said first controller, further adapted to control said synchronous starter/generator in said first mode to produce a reluctance torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said first controller electrically coupled to said synchronous starter/generator, said synchronous starter/generator comprising a stator having an armature winding, and a rotor having a field winding; and said first controller, further adapted to control said synchronous starter/generator in said second mode to produce at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output, and apply said at least one of a reluctance torque output and a reaction torque output to said prime mover in said first and second stage until said prime mover is substantially self sustaining. 15. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first controller comprises:a plural phase converter, adapted to apply a first modulated signal to said armature winding of said starter/generator in said first mode, and in response, said starter/generator is adapted to produce said reluctance torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining, said first modulated signal having a terminal voltage Park vector and a current Park vector, said current Park vector comprising a q-axis and a d-axis current vector component; and a floating frame controller, adapted to generate a current Park control vector, and use said current Park control vector to control said plural phase converter during modulation of said first modulated signal. 16. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 15, wherein said plural phase converter comprises:a three phase power converter, adapted to maintain a load angle at a first angle value in said first mode, said load angle comprising an angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said first modulated signal. 17. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first angle value in said first mode is selectable to maximize said reluctance torque output.18. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first angle value in said first mode is 45 electrical degrees.19. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 16, wherein said three phase power converter is adapted to maintain said first angle value in said first mode at a fixed angle with respect to a first rotor position of said synchronous starter/generator.20. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first controller further comprises:said plural phase converter, further adapted to apply a second modulated signal to said armature winding of said starter/generator in said first and second stages of said second mode, and in response, said starter/generator is further adapted to produce said reluctance torque output, and apply said reluctance torque output to said prime mover during said first and second stages, said second modulated signal having a terminal voltage Park vector and a current Park vector comprising a q-axis and a d-axis current vector component; an exciter circuit, adapted to apply a third signal to a field winding of said starter/generator in said second stage of said second mode, and in response, said starter/generator is further adapted to produce said reaction torque output, and apply said reaction torque output to said prime mover during said second stage until said prime mover is substantially self-sustaining; and said floating frame controller, further adapted to generate a current Park control vector in a synchronous reference frame, and use said current Park control vector to control said plural phase converter during modulation of said second modulated signal. 21. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural phase converter comprises:a three phase power converter, adapted to maintain a load angle at a second angle value in said second mode while said synchronous starter/generator operates below a first rotational speed value, said load angle comprising an angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said second modulated signal; and said three phase power converter, further adapted to adjust said second angle value to maximize torque production while said synchronous starter/generator operates at or above said first rotational speed. 22. An apparatus for applying a torque to a prime mover as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plural phase converter comprises:a three phase power converter, adapted to maintain a load angle at a third angle value in said second mode until a required terminal voltage value of said synchronous starter/generator exceeds a maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter, said load angle comprising an angle between said q-axis current vector component and said terminal voltage Park vector of said second modulated signal; and said three phase power converter, further adapted to adjust said third angle value to maintain said required terminal voltage value at or below said maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter when said required terminal voltage value of said synchronous starter/generator exceeds said maximum voltage value provided by said plural phase converter.