Starter/generator system having multivoltage generation capability

An electric power starter/generator for converting electrical energy from a remote dc electrical power source to mechanical energy to start a turbine engine in the start mode, and for converting mechanical energy from the turbine engine to electrical energy to power utilization equipment in the generate mode, comprising:

• a mechanical energy coupling means for transferring rotational mechanical energy between said electric power starter/generator and the turbine engine;
• a permanent magnet synchronous machine having a rotor driveably coupled to said mechanical energy coupling means and a stator;
• and
• a bidirectional ac-dc power converter having a dc input/output and an ac input/output, said dc input/output coupled to the remote dc source, said ac input/output coupled to said stator of said permanent magnet synchronous machine, said power converter producing variable frequency polyphase ac excitation at said ac input/output from the dc electrical energy at said dc input/output to drive said permanent magnet synchronous machine as a brushless dc motor to generate rotational mechanical energy to start the turbine engine via said mechanical energy coupling means during the start mode, said power converter alternately producing dc electrical energy at said dc input/output from polyphase ac electrical energy at said ac input/output generated by said permanent magnet synchronous machine when driven by the turbine engine via said mechanical energy coupling means during the generate mode.