The choice of transport technology in the presence of exports and FDI

In a set-up with intermediate production, we analyze how a shipper's choice of transport technology, traditional versus modern, interacts with the mode of foreign expansion by an service firm, export versus foreign direct investment (FDI). In terms of the mode of foreign expansion by the service firm, we obtain that: due to trade in intermediate goods, trade and FDI can be complements; the export strategy dominates when the economies of scale at plant level are high and trade costs are low; the FDI strategy is preferable when market size is large and trade costs are intermediate. In what concerns the choice of transport technology by the shipper, we find that: the modern technology tends to be implemented in larger markets; economic integration can encourage the adoption of modern technology vis-à-vis the traditional one; the modern technology adoption is more likely for intermediate levels of transport costs. We then have that modern technology adoption usually occurs under the FDI strategy, since both emerge when trade costs are intermediate and market size is large.Transport Technology, Foreign Direct Investment, Trade, Service Sector, Firm Location.

Fault-tolerant multilevel converter to feed a switched reluctance machine

The switched reluctance machine (SRM) is one of the most interesting machines, being adopted for many applications. However, this machine requires a power electronic converter that usually is the most fragile element of the system. Thus, in order to ensure high reliability for this system, it is fundamental to design a power electronic converter with fault-tolerant capability. In this context, a new solution is proposed to give this capability to the system. This converter was designed with the purpose to ensure fault-tolerant capability to two types of switch faults, namely open- and short-circuit. Moreover, apart from this feature, the proposed topology is characterized by a multilevel operation that allows improvement of the performance of the SRM, taking into consideration a wide speed range. Although the proposed solution is presented for an 8/6 SRM, it can be used for other configurations. The operation of the proposed topology will be described for the two modes, fault-tolerant and normal operation. Another aspect that is addressed in this paper is the proposal of fault detection and diagnosis method for this fault-tolerant inverter. It was specifically developed for a multilevel SRM drive. The theoretical assumptions will be verified through two different types of tests, firstly by simulation and secondly by experiments with a laboratory prototype.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PV generator-fed water pumping system based on a SRM with a multilevel fault-tolerant converter

This paper presents a pumping system supplied by a PV generator that is based on a switched reluctance machine (SRM). Water pumping systems are fundamental in many applications. Most of them can be used only during the day; therefore, they are highly recommended for use with PV generators. For the interface between the PV panels and the motor, a new multilevel converter is proposed. This converter is designed in order to ensure fault-tolerant capability for open switch faults. The converter is based on two three-level inverters, with some extra switches. Moreover, to reduce the number of switches, the converter is designed to provide inverse currents in the motor windings. Due to the characteristics of this motor, the inverse currents do not change the torque direction. In this way, it was possible to obtain an SRM drive with fault-tolerant capability for transistor faults; it is also a low-cost solution, due to the reduced number of switches and drives. These characteristics of fault-tolerant capability and low cost are important in applications such as water pumping systems supplied by PV generators. The proposed system was verified by several tests that were carried out by a simulation program. The experimental results, obtained from a laboratory prototype, are also presented, with the purpose of validating the simulation tests.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

DC Microgrids: Benefits, Architectures, Perspectives and Challenges

One of the major paradigm shifts that will be predictably observed in the energy mix is related to distribution networks. Until now, this type of electrical grid was characterized by an AC transmission. However, a new concept is emerging, as the electrical distribution networks characterized by DC transmission are beginning to be considered as a promising solution due to technological advances. In fact, we are now witnessing a proliferation of DC equipment associated with renewable energy sources, storage systems and loads. Thus, such equipment is beginning to be considered in different contexts. In this way, taking into consideration the requirement for the fast integration of this equipment into the existing electrical network, DC networks have started to become important. On the other hand, the importance of the development of these DC networks is not only due to the fact that the amount of DC equipment is becoming huge. When compared with the classical AC transmission systems, the DC networks are considered more efficient and reliable, not having any issues regarding the reactive power and frequency control and synchronization. Although much research work has been conducted, several technical aspects have not yet been defined as standard. This uncertainty is still an obstacle to a faster transition to this type of network. There are also other aspects that still need to be a focus of study and research in order to allow this technology to become a day-to-day solution. Finally, there are also many applications in which this kind of DC microgrid can be used, but they have still not been addressed. Thus, all these aspects are considered important challenges that need to be tackled. In this context, this paper presents an overview of the existing and possible solutions for this type of microgrid, as well as the challenges that need to be faced now.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Economic development according to Friedrich list

In this paper, we develop a Listian model of economic development. The economy consists of a primary sector and a potential industrial sector that can arise via industrialization. Industrialization however depends on if the primary sector specializes on the primary product, which can lead to a division of labor between the primary and the industrial sector. In this case, the industrial sector will use a modern technology to produce industrial goods. If such does not occur, the primary sector continues to produce all goods with a traditional technology of production. In addition, the industrial sector has to decide if it concentrates production in one location or if it disperses production in two locations. We show that the level of transport costs matters for division of labor and for the degree of manufacturing agglomeration if and only if the refinement of the primary input is strong, i.e., if the raw material loses a lot of weight through industrial transformation. Otherwise, if the industrial process is not so much “weight-losing”, industrialization can begin with a decentralized symmetric spatial pattern independently of the transport costs level

Deindustrialization in the light of classical location theory

In this paper, we used a framework due VON THUNEN (1966) and Friedrich LIST (1841) where manufacturing development is regarded as a process of “refining” primary raw materials in order to yield “lighter”, easier to carry products. If the artificial regulations which formerly kept industrial plants confined to core urban areas are abolished, then factories shift to rural areas in order to be close to the sources of farming raw materials, provided that the industrial transformation is sufficiently weight losing. However, the new productive sites for manufacturing will remain at a bounded distance from the Town, since they must bear the transport costs of shipping the output to the central meeting point where it must be transacted. Areas which are beyond this distance threshold are occupied by a traditional cottage economy, where goods are not carried to the Town but are rather produced for the household self-consumption. This framework also explains the observed fact that, within manufacturing, resource based branches are more centrally located in relation to core urban areas than other sectors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

(De) industrialization in the Von Thünen’s economy

In the Von Thtinen (1826)'s economy, manufacturing decentralization is viewed as the refining of an agricultural commodity near the cultivation site, which substitutes for its transport to an industrial mill located in the Town. As Friedrich List (1841) added, this substitution is economically feasible only if the savings in transport costs following from in site refining cover the increase in fixed costs associated with a second industrial plant. In market equilibrium terms, this happens when the decentralized machine is provided collectively by the landowners, who fund it through the proceeds of the rise in total land rent following from the industrial investment. This condition will be satisfied more likely in a large economy with high average transport costs and where manufacturing specializes in relatively weight losing activities. If industrial decentralization is feasible, then the new factories will prefer to locate outside the Town, in formerly rural areas endowed with an intermediate degree of centrality. Their distance to the Town will be directly related with the intensity of input refining that they are able to carry out. This model appears to account for main stylized trends of manufacturing relocation nowadays, which are jointly labeled as 11 (de)industrialization".info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A geographical theory of (De)industrialization

In the model of agricultural land use and rent of Von Thunen (1826), manufacturing decentralization is viewed as the refining (or “distilling”) of an agricultural commodity near the cultivation site, which substitutes for its transport to an industrial mill located in the Town. As Friedrich List (1841) added, this substitution is economically feasible only if the savings in transport cost following from in site refining cover the increase in fixed costs associated with a second industrial plant. We update this approach aiming to rationalize some stylized trends of manufacture relocation nowadays, which are jointly labeled as “deindustrializationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

(De)industrialization, technology and transportation

The transition from a traditional, constant returns technology to modern, increasing returns methods of production in manufacturing not only widens the scale of production but more crucially, it enhances product quality. Such a quality improvement consists mainly in a much higher level of transportability. The fact that products become “lighter” and easier to carry opens foreign markets to manufacturers thereby supporting larger scales of production. We model this situation through a one-stage game where firms distributed across two countries select technologies and fob mill prices. Contrasting with the Big Push approach, such a game is never a coordination game. In addition to cases where all firms adopt either modern or traditional technologies, the standard outcome is an asymmetric situation, where the modern firms in a country eliminate traditional units in the other country. Starting from a situation where all productive activity is traditional, deindustrialization can be viewed as a situation where firms in a country switch to more modern technologies while industrial units in the other country are unable to participate in this movement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A geographical theory of (de)Industrialization

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio