A pump is used to lift water from a lower place to a higher place against gravity, which is from a lower pressure to a higher pressure. Thus it is necessary for uphill.
A syphon will work if it is downhill. So will a drain or similar system. For uphill without a mechanical pump, there are systems that work in a limited way, for example thermosyphon, osmosis. These seem unlikley for "large applications".
For water to go uphill it has to be lifted against gravity, which requires power and so energy. Even if being circulated, there is a pressure head to overcome (a pressure difference) due to piping losses etc. This is the same as being lifted. A 'head' is simply converting pressure drops and height to lift to a single number representing height to lift, where approximately 10m of water 'head' is one atmosphere of pressure to overcome.
A basic formula to illustrate this is:
Power_W = (Mass_kg x Gravity_m/s/s x Height_m) / time_s
Here the mass is the amount of water lifted, where 1 litre = 1kg, and the height is the equivalent pressure head in meters, and gravity is the acceleration due to gravity. The time indicates the rate that water is being moved. Clearly, the more water moved and the faster it is moved needs more power.
Another possibilty that gets its energy from the water pressure and flow and can convert that to a higher pressure for lifting far above the water level, and is a type of pump, is a hydraulic ram.
A pump moves a body from low to high pressure (which takes negative work, its against the flow of "nature"). Think about an air pump that takes air from low atmospheric pressure and compresses it into your bike or car tire. So that really does not make sense. However a turbine can turn while water passes through it and "circulate" to generate power. Maybe some clarification.
Wind blowing across the surface of a body of water creates a current
Force comes from gravity.
can this method be used in large applications??
