- What is available?
- What is needed?
(see report for explanation and definitions, will follow)

The gap between these two questions has to be bridged. This can only be done well if both questions are answered properly to define the starting points. The gap can then be bridged by a technical solution.

This technical solution will often exist from three different components:

   A. Energy source
   B. Convector
   C. Transmission

 All three components have to be filled in with the answers given to question 1 above and the combination of those three have to deliver a performance defined by the answer on question 2.

Simply stated: find the right combination and unlock the flow of water!

A. ENERGY SOURCE
Energy can come in many different appearances. For this study it means that there are a lot of possible sources to retrieve energy from. By transforming the different forms of available energy wise into the required energy form (movement of water) it is possible to make a lot of very deviating combinations. 

B. CONVECTOR
The convertor is nothing more than a device or a way to convert or transform one energy form into another. Almost all forms of energy are transformable into another form. For example, by dropping a marble on a steel plate you transform gravitational energy into kinetic energy (movement) and by hitting the steel plate it is transformed into sound energy (bang!). An example closer to this challenge is to turn wind (kinetic energy, is movement) into electric energy by using a dynamo. This electrical energy can then be used by a electrical pump that transforms the electrical energy back to kinetic energy.

Nevertheless, every transformation and the number of transformations knows its limits: 100% efficiency in transformation is hard to reach. Even when using convectors with a very high coefficient of performance from 90% know their limits. For example when transforming wind into usable kinetic energy by using a fan blade an after that a dynamo that drives a electrical pump there are four transformations. The overall efficiency will be 0.90*0.90*0.90*0.90=0.66!

It is advisable to use as less convectors as possible for optimal use of energy!

C. TRANSMISSION
The transmission component makes the water moving or pumped up. Herein is the type of pump incorporated as well as the pumping technique. 

Mechanical pumps may be submerged in the fluid they are pumping or external to the fluid. Mechanical pumps can be classified by their method of displacement into positive displacement pumps, impulse pumps, velocity pumps, gravity pumps, steam pumps and valveless pumps.

Examples of non-mechanical pumping techniques:
In nature also non-mechanical types of pumps are known: