This paper is divided into three main parts. In the first part, i.e. Section II, a general outline of the system level aspects regarding battery chargers (power converters) for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is given. Thereby, the different charging modes of the converters, the corresponding power levels, and the infrastructural facilities are discussed. Moreover, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operation by means of grid-forming, grid-feeding, and gridsupporting converter functionality is briefly explained, and the input power quality and electromagnetic compatibility requirements are summarized. In the second part, i.e. Section III, the mutually coupled indices that determine the overall performance of the system, such as power losses (efficiency), volume (power density), weight (specific power), failure rate (reliability), and costs (relative cost), are outlined. In this context, the role that wide band-gap power semiconductors (e.g. SiC, GaN) can play in order to further improve the system performance is highlighted. In the third part, i.e. Section IV, a concise overview of the possible topological implementations for the mentioned power converters is provided. The focus is on conductive, isolated AC-DC converter topologies with high AC input power quality in terms of power factor correction (PFC) and harmonic distortion, and with bidirectional power flow capability in order to facilitate V2G operation.

PurposeBecause of the 2008 global financial crisis aftermaths, economic downturn and prolonged recession, several OECD countries have adopted an austerity compound by significantly reducing public health expenditure (PHE) for dealing with their fiscal pressure and sovereign-debt challenges. Against this backdrop, this study aims to examine the responsiveness of PHE to macro-fiscal determinants, demography, as well to private health insurance (PHI) financing.Design/methodology/approachThe authors gather annual panel data from four international organizations databases for the total of OECD countries from a period lasting from 2000 to 2017. The authors apply static and dynamic econometric methodology to deal with panel data and assess the impact of several parameters on PHE.FindingsThe authors’ findings indicate that gross domestic product, fiscal capacity, tax revenues and population aging have a positive effect on PHE. Further, the authors find that both unemployment rate and voluntary private health insurance financing present a negative statistically significant impact on our estimated outcome variable. Different specifications and sample periods applied in the regression models reveal how inseparably associated are PHE and OECD's economies compliance on macro-fiscal policies for offsetting public finances derailment.Practical implicationsProviding more evidence on the responsiveness of PHE to several macro-fiscal drivers, it can be a helpful tool for governments to reconsider their persistence on fiscal adjustments measures and rank public health financing to the top of their political agenda. Health systems policies for meeting Universal Health Coverage (UHC) objectives, they should also take into consideration the voluntary PHI institution, especially for economies with insufficient fiscal capacity to raise public health financing.Originality/valueTo the best of knowledge, the impact of unemployment and voluntary PHI funding on public health financing, apart from other macro-fiscal and demographical parameters effect, remains unnoticed in the existing published studies on the topic.

No abstract

This paper deals with the development of a PSpice based temperature dependent modelling platform for the evaluation of silicon based IGBT power modules. The developed device modelling platform is intended to be used for the design and assessment of converter valves/cells for potential high power applications in transmission and distribution networks. An extended version of a previous modelling platform implemented in PSpice is presented here taking into account temperature dependence up to (and even beyond) the specified junction temperature of 125 o C of 4.5kV StakPak power modules. A set of device modelling parameters (both for IGBTs and diodes) have first been extracted and verified with static and dynamic comparison of experimental data from 4.5kV and 2.0kA Si based IGBT power modules. An overall fair comparison is achieved with varying set of bus voltages and load currents and at different temperatures.

No abstract