Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that is used to show the flow of a specific fluid or substance. They are commonly used in scientific research, engineering, and other fields where flows of materials need to be analyzed. In this article, we will explore the basic structure of Sankey charts and how they can be advanced to meet the needs of specific applications.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a flow diagram that uses a series of interconnected canals to show the flow of a specific fluid or substance. Each canal represents a different element or substance flowing through a system. The flow starts at the beginning of the diagram and travels through the canals to the end, where it ends or terminates.
Sankey charts are useful for analyzing complex flow systems and can be used for a variety of applications, including:

1. Flow of materials (such as chemicals, fuels, or gases)
2. Flow of energy (such as electricity, heat or light)
3. Flow of information (such as financial transactions, data flows, etc.)
4. Flow of processes (such as manufacturing processes, service flows, etc.)
5. Flow of information (such as scientific research, data analysis, etc.)
6. Flow of resources (such as water, sewage, gas or other resources)

Basic Sankey Chart

A basic Sankey chart consists of multiple pages, each representing a different element flowing through a system. Each page also contains the following information:

• Symbol or label for each element flowing through the system
• The direction of the flow of materials (left to right or right to left)
• The distance the material flows through each canal
• The color of each cannel to represent the flow of the corresponding element
• The location of each element on the page or the flow direction (left to right or right to left)

Advanced Sankey Chart

To make a Sankey Chart more useful, you may have to create an advanced Sankey Chart. This can be done based on the type of analysis you want to conduct, such as:

1. Analyzing the flow of materials in a system
2. Determining the efficiency of the flow of materials in a system
3. Analyzing the flow of energy in a system
4. Analyzing the flow of information in a system
5. Analyzing the flow of processes in a system
6. Analyzing the flow of resources in a system

When building an advanced Sankey Chart, you will need to consider the following factors:

• The type of analysis you want to conduct: energy efficiency, material flow, information flow, processes flow, and resources flow
• The elements you want to analyze: chemicals, fuels, gases, electricity, data, etc.
• The locations and flow directions of the elements
• The colors you will use to represent each flow
• The flow distance measured in meters or miles

Sankey Chart Examples

Here are some examples of Sankey charts:

1. Material Flow Chart: Example
2. Energy Flow Chart: Example
3. Information Flow Chart: Example
4. Process Flow Chart: Example
5. Resource Flow Chart: Example

Sankey Chart Advantages
There are several advantages to using Sankey charts. One advantage is that they provide a clear and concise visual representation of flow systems, making it easier to understand the flow of materials, energy, information, processes and resources. Another advantage of Sankey charts is that they can be used for a wide range of applications, making them a versatile tool in the scientific and engineering fields.

However, there are also some limitations of Sankey charts. One limitation is that it is difficult to add or modify existing Sankey charts. Additionally, Sankey charts can be difficult to create if they are complex, containing a large number of elements or if many pages are needed.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.