A Sankey chart, also known as a Sankey flowchart or Sankey diagram, is a type of flowchart that is used to represent the flow of energy or material through a system or process. It was originally developed by Australian engineer John Sankey in the early 20th century as a way to visualize and study the flows of energy or materials in a system.
Sankey charts are often used to show the allocation of resources, such as money or labor, within a system, or to illustrate the flows of energy or materials between different components of a system. They can be used to study the efficiency of a system, identify areas where improvements can be made, and track the movement of resources over time.
To create a Sankey chart, you will need to gather information about the flow of energy or materials in the system or process you are studying. This may include data on the amounts of resources entering and leaving the system, the types of resources being used, and the processes involved in the flow of resources.
Next, you will need to determine the direction of the flow of resources in the system. This will allow you to create arrows on the chart to represent the flow of resources from one component to another. You will also need to choose a scale for the x and y axes of the chart, which will help you to represent the amounts of resources in a meaningful way.
Finally, you will need to use a specialized software tool, such as Process Flowchart or Sankey Flowchart, to create the chart. These tools can help you to automate the process of creating the chart, and can also provide you with a range of options and features to customize the chart to your needs.
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications, including in the fields of engineering, economics, and ecology. Some examples of the types of systems that are commonly studied using Sankey charts include energy systems, material flow systems, and water systems. They are also used in manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain management, to analyze and optimize the flow of resources within a system.
One of the main advantages of using Sankey charts is that they provide a visual representation of the flow of resources in a system, which makes it easier to understand and analyze the system as a whole. They are also flexible and customizable, which allows users to create charts that are tailored to specific needs and goals.
Despite these benefits, Sankey charts also have some limitations. One of the main limitations is that they require a significant amount of data to create an accurate and useful chart. This can make it time-consuming and challenging to create a chart for complex systems. In addition, Sankey charts are only applicable for systems where the flow of resources can be easily represented using arrows.
Overall, Sankey charts are a useful visual tool for understanding and analyzing the flow of energy or materials within a system or process. They are commonly used in a variety of fields, including engineering, economics, and ecology, and can be customized to meet the specific needs of different systems.
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