Calculating Energy Needed to Fill Basins with Water

[Yoann]

I'm currently working on a project, but I'm no engineer or physicist, so I'm limited in my calculations. It would be great if you guys could help me out!

I joined an image to this post to help understand. There are two basins, height = 16 meters, length = 4 meters and width = 3 meters. They are next to each other, and both half-full with water. If there is a kind of motor or machine connecting both basins and located in the bottom that can transfer the water from one basin to the other, how much energy/electricity would the motor/machine use in order to fill one of the basins to the top with the water from the other basin? (so basically fill the top half)

If there's any kind of formula that could help me calculate this, that would help me big time.

Thanks!

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3350/photo6dw.jpg

 

[DaveC426913]

It would take the same energy as required to lift 96 tonnes of water (8x4x3) vertically by a height of 8m.

 

[Philip Wood]

The minimum energy you need (that is assuming no frictional losses in pipes etc) is h²LBgρ in which

h is the height of water in each half (not the combined height) [enter in m]
L is the length of tank [enter in m]
B is the breadth of tank [enter in m]
g = 9.8 N kg^-1
ρ = density of water = 1000 kg m^-3

The answer will come out in joule (J)

 

[Yoann]

Thanks, appreciate your help! That helps a lot!