The Analysis of Dimensionless Magnitudes in

Economic Science
Odysseas N. Kopsidas, Athanasios E. Raptis

Even in physical sciences and

engineering/technology, this identification
Λογότυπο εταιρίας/ εργαστηρίου attempt becomes cumbersome and the
computer program may fail to suggest a
realistic solution without substantial human
intervention. The probability to fail
increases when the DG under investigation
is incorporated into relations that change
the original VPCs with others for sake of
Abstract better fitting to system’s specifications. For
example, when the system is “fluid flow
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other unit through porous media”, B can be combined
of human society. It includes labor, capital, natural resources, production, with the “resistance coefficient” DG
trade, distribution and consumption of goods and services in the area where expressed by the ratio
human society is active. These factors give context, content, and determine
the conditions and parameters with which the economy operates. When 
  A2 3 P Q 2  1   lS  to give a
relation of the general form   K B in
searching with data mining techniques to identify or find out dimensionless n
groups (DGs) in technical literature, it is possible to meet
errors/faults/omissions concerning both, the form and the content of such the procedure known as the Blake-Carman
groups. In the present study, a methodological framework has been correlation, where A is the cross-sectional
developed in terms of a logical flow chart, including 11 activity stages and area of packing perpendicular to flow
seven decision nodes, to acquire/process/store/retrieve knowledge for direction, P is the pressure difference, Q is
reconstruction and identification of these groups. Case Based Reasoning the volumetric flow rate (Q = VA), l is the
(CBR), especially modified to meet the needs of this work, has been used for
length of packing in the flow direction, K
tracing causality paths by similarity and making correction suggestions.
and n are parameters. In the low B-range
Two case examples are presented to prove the functionality of the proposed
(approximately, B < 1), n = 1, and by re-
methodology. Non-dimensional groups are used in engineering but can also
be used in economic science. Through this analysis, we can calculate the arranging the VPCs, we obtain the Kozeny-
Carman equation
 
scale of industrial processes from laboratory to pilot and then factory scale.
Q  A 3 P K 1    S 2 l , which is
2
Still through the study of non-dimensional groups, it is easy to calculate
economies of scale embedded in the production process. Synergy savings and
dimensionally homogenous, since Q 
 
target economies cause economies of scale in a production process and
[L3T-1] and A P K 1    S l 
3 2 2
reduce the cost of production per unit of output when production is
increased. Non-dimensional groups can be a quantitative and measurable
indicator for calculating and predicting economies of scale in an industrial [L2][1][ML-1T-2][1][ML-1T-1][L-1]-2[L]-
unit. The same can happen in an economic unit providing services, that is, 1 = [L3T-1].
intangible products. problem”. In the case examined herein,
Economies of scale are a term of finance, referring to the reduction of costs searching for implications of error in Blake
that an enterprise achieves by increasing the quantity of the product produced and Number B is the direct problem while
characterizing the production of any product. Although at first sight it seems searching for the possible source of error in
strange, economies of scale are observed in the production of most products. This Kozeny-Carman equation is the inverse
also leads to a clear trend of business growth and concentration of production on problem. It is also worthwhile noting that
a few and very large players. the same family of equations is frequently
Non-dimensional groups are used in engineering but can also be used in met under all pairwise combinations (i.e.,
economic science. Through this analysis, we can calculate the scale of industrial Kozeny-Carman, Blake-Carman, Blake-
processes from laboratory to pilot and then factory scale. Still through the study Kozeny) leading to additional difficulties
of non-dimensional groups, it is easy to calculate economies of scale embedded faced by the IA searching in external KBs
in the production process. Synergy savings and target economies cause using the keywords interface suggested in
economies of scale in a production process and reduce the cost of production per Batzias and Marcoulaki (2002).
unit of output when production is increased. Non-dimensional groups can be a
quantitative and measurable indicator for calculating and predicting economies of
scale in an industrial unit. The same can happen in an economic unit providing
services, that is, intangible products.
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