The Analysis of Dimensionless Magnitudes in

Economic Science
Odysseas N. Kopsidas, Athanasios E. Raptis

Even in εταιρίας/
Λογότυπο physicalεργαστηρίου
sciences and
engineering/technology, this identification
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 better
fitting to system’s specifications. For
example, when the system is “fluid flow
through porous media”, B can be combined
with the “resistance coefficient” DG
expressed by the ratio

  A 2 3 P Q 2  1    lS to give a
relation of the general form   K B in
n

the procedure known as the Blake-Carman

correlation, where A is the cross-sectional
area of packing perpendicular to flow
direction, P is the pressure difference, Q is
the volumetric flow rate (Q = VA), l is the
length of packing in the flow direction, K
and n are parameters. In the low B-range
(approximately, B < 1), n = 1, and by re-
arranging the VPCs, we obtain the Kozeny-
Carman equation
 
Q  A 3 P K 1    S 2 l , which is
2

dimensionally homogenous, since Q [L3T-

3

1] and A P K 1    S l [L2][1]
2 2

[ML-1T-2][1][ML-1T-1][L-1]-2[L]-1 =
3 -1
[L T ].
problem”. In the case examined herein,
searching for implications of error in Blake
Number B is the direct problem while
searching for the possible source of error in
Kozeny-Carman equation is the inverse
problem. It is also worthwhile noting that
the same family of equations is frequently
met under all pairwise combinations (i.e.,
Kozeny-Carman, Blake-Carman, Blake-
Kozeny) leading to additional difficulties
faced by the IA searching in external KBs
using the keywords interface suggested in
Batzias and Marcoulaki (2002).

Λογότυπο εταιρίας/ εργαστηρίου

Abstract

An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other unit

of human society. It includes labor, capital, natural resources, production,
trade, distribution and consumption of goods and services in the area where
human society is active. These factors give context, content, and determine
the conditions and parameters with which the economy operates. When
searching with data mining techniques to identify or find out dimensionless
groups (DGs) in technical literature, it is possible to meet
errors/faults/omissions concerning both, the form and the content of such
groups. In the present study, a methodological framework has been
developed in terms of a logical flow chart, including 11 activity stages and
seven decision nodes, to acquire/process/store/retrieve knowledge for
reconstruction and identification of these groups. Case Based Reasoning
(CBR), especially modified to meet the needs of this work, has been used for
tracing causality paths by similarity and making correction suggestions. Two
case examples are presented to prove the functionality of the proposed
methodology. Non-dimensional groups are used in engineering but can also
be used in economic science. Through this analysis, we can calculate the
scale of industrial processes from laboratory to pilot and then factory scale.
Still through the study of non-dimensional groups, it is easy to calculate
economies of scale embedded in the production process. Synergy savings and
target economies cause economies of scale in a production process and
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
unit. The same can happen in an economic unit providing services, that is,
intangible products.
Economies of scale are a term of finance, referring to the reduction of costs
that an enterprise achieves by increasing the quantity of the product produced and
characterizing the production of any product. Although at first sight it seems
strange, economies of scale are observed in the production of most products. This
also leads to a clear trend of business growth and concentration of production on
a few and very large players.
Non-dimensional groups are used in engineering but can also be used in
economic science. Through this analysis, we can calculate the scale of industrial
processes from laboratory to pilot and then factory scale. Still through the study
of non-dimensional groups, it is easy to calculate economies of scale embedded
in the production process. Synergy savings and target economies cause
economies of scale in a production process and 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 unit. The same can happen in an economic unit providing
services, that is, intangible products.

Λογότυπο εταιρίας/ εργαστηρίου