Power transfer in variable frequency electric power generation systems

A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for causing a computer to implement a power transfer method in a variable frequency (VF) electric power generation system (EPGS), the method comprising:

• determining that initial power quality conditions the VF EPGS are satisfied;
• sending a power-ready signal;
• receiving an acknowledgement signal to the sending of the power-ready signal, the acknowledgement signal being indicative that an associated alternating current (AC) bus is ready to receive power generated in the VF EPGS;
• receiving a bus-ready signal;
• and
• in response to receiving the bus-ready signal, activating a generator line contactor (GLC) driver.

A variable frequency (VF) electric power generation system (EPGS), comprising:

• a first generator coupled to a first generator control unit (GCU) and to a first alternating current (AC) bus through a first generator line contactor (GLC);
• a second generator coupled to a second GCU and to a second AC bus through a second GLC;
• and
• an auxiliary power generator coupled to a third GCU and to a plurality of bus tie contactors (BTCs), through a third GLC, and coupled to at least one of the first and second AC buses through the plurality of BTCs,
• wherein the first, second and third GCUs are configured to:
• determine that initial power quality conditions the VF EPGS are satisfied;
• send a power-ready signal;
• receive an acknowledgement signal to the power-ready signal, the acknowledgement signal being indicative that an associated AC bus is ready to receive power generated in the VF EPGS;
• receive a bus-ready signal;
• set a first timer;
• in response to receiving the bus-ready signal, activate a GLC driver for at least one of the first, second and third GLCs;
• and
• in response to the first timer exceeding the first predetermined time period, opening a bus tie contactor BTC allocated to the associated AC bus,
• wherein the first timer is compared to a first predetermined time period to wait for the acknowledgement to the power-ready signal.