Increase In Thermal Efficiency Research Articles

The Influence of Injector Nozzle Diameter on High-Density and Lean Mixture Combustion in Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines

In order to improve the fuel economy of heavy-duty diesel engines under high-load conditions, based on the combustion pathway model, it is proposed that the proportion of lean mixture with 0 < Φ < 1 is the most important spray characteristic affecting the overall diesel combustion process. Answering the question of how to increase the proportion of lean mixture inside the spray is the key to achieving the efficient and clean combustion of diesel engines. This paper investigated the mechanism of injector nozzle diameter on the in-cylinder air–fuel mixture and combustion process based on a high-density and lean mixture characteristic combustion strategy. The experimental results show that with an increase in nozzle diameter, the peak pressure and instantaneous heat release rate significantly increase, the combustion duration is shortened by about 20%, and the heat release becomes more concentrated. At 1200 rpm and IMEPg~2.3 MPa conditions, the indicated thermal efficiency increases by 1.3%, reaching a maximum of 51.5%. The numerical simulation results show that with the increase in nozzle diameter from 0.169 mm to 0.218 mm, the spray ejection momentum per unit time increases by 30%, the momentum transferred to the air by the spray increases, the oxygen transport process becomes more intense, and the air entrainment mass during the spray free development stage increases by 42%. The proportion of lean mixture inside the spray throughout the entire spray development process increases, resulting in an increase in the heat release rate of the lean mixture, making the overall combustion more intense and concentrated.

О НЕКОТОРЫХ РЕЗУЛЬТАТАХ АНАЛИЗА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ТЕПЛООБМЕНА ПОВЕРХНОСТИ ПОПЕРЕЧНО ОБТЕКАЕМЫХ ПУЧКОВ ЦИЛИНДРИЧЕСКИХ ТРУБ И ПРОФИЛИРОВАННЫХ КАНАЛОВ СО СЛОЖНОЙ ГЕОМЕТРИЕЙ В ПОТОКЕ ВОЗДУХА

Possible options are presented to arrange bundles of cylindrical smooth pipes of constant and variable cross-section and profiled channels made of thin-walled plates with two-sided spheroidal protrusions and hollows, allowing to intensify heat exchange, increase thermal energy efficiency and improve the mass and dimensional parameters of heat exchangers and devices. The results of experimental studies of heat and aerodynamic characteristics are given, including those obtained for the first time, and performed on their basis using an original methods for a comprehensive analysis of performance indicators for individual design variants of the convective surfaces under discussion.

Investigation on heat transfer characteristics of multi-duct Trombe wall based on multi-mode heat exchange in winter

For the areas where solar energy resources are available and the demand is high, the low heat transfer efficiency of the traditional Trombe wall needs to be solved, so this study combines the traditional Trombe wall with tubular solar collectors and proposes a form of Trombe wall with multi-pipe and multi-heat transfer modes. Numerical simulation analysis is conducted based on the measured data near the wall surface of residential buildings in Zhengzhou City, China, in December. The thermal performance of different heat transfer modes is evaluated based on the simulation results, and the structural form of the multi-duct Trombe walls is optimized. The results show that the coupled heat transfer mode achieves the highest thermal efficiency. Compared with the traditional interlayer heat transfer mode, the coupled heat transfer mode has a faster start-up speed and more stable performance, with a 27.8 % increase in average daily thermal efficiency and a 36 % increase in heating capacity. Research has found that the 9-duct multi-duct Trombe wall performs better in terms of overall performance. Increasing the number of branch pipes further has limited effect on improving thermal performance. When the diameter of the heat collection branch pipe is 60 mm, the multi-duct Trombe wall achieves the highest average daily thermal efficiency of 70.3 %; adopting a non-uniform pipe distribution mode with the center distance of the middle 5 branch pipes being twice that of the other branch pipes, the Trombe wall achieves the highest average daily thermal efficiency and heating capacity.

Analysis of Hydrogen Combustion in a Spark Ignition Research Engine with a Barrier Discharge Igniter

Hydrogen fuel is gaining particular attention in internal combustion engines. In addition to zero-carbon emissions, major advantages relate to its combustion characteristics, which allow a significant increase in thermal efficiency under ultra-lean operation and with very low NOx levels. The ignition system is one of the main technology enablers, as it determines the capability to control ultra-lean operations, avoid backfire phenomena, and/or reduce the risks of abnormal combustions. The latter results from hydrogen’s low ignition energy and it is associated with factors like high-temperature residuals, hot spots, and irregular spark plug discharge. The ACIS gen 2-Barrier Discharge Igniter excels in accelerating the initial flame growth speed by the generation of non-equilibrium low-temperature plasma, a strong ignition promoter for the combined action of kinetic and thermal effects. Moreover, its volumetric discharge facilitates combustion initiation on a wide region, in contrast to the localized ignition of traditional spark systems. In this work we present for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, experimental results showing the performance of a hydrogen engine with a low-temperature plasma discharge. Tests were conducted on a single-cylinder research engine, achieving ultra-lean conditions with cycle-to-cycle variability results below 2.5%. The analysis indicates that the H2-BDI combined solution is capable of accelerating the evolution of the flame front compared to traditional spark plugs, leading to a significant reduction in the cycle-to-cycle variability. A meticulous adjustment of the BDI control parameters further enhances igniter performance and contributes to a deeper understanding of the innovative approach proposed in this study.

Experimental comparison of finned tube heat exchangers for heat rejection under natural convection conditions

This article presents experimental analysis of heat removal capabilities of a wavy finned tube heat exchanger operating under natural convection conditions Two types of heat exchangers are considered in this work: standard construction exchangers, most often found in waste heat rejection devices and exchangers based on a novel geometry, which supports intensification of heat transfer processes under natural convection. The aim of the research was to experimentally verify the novel conception and to determine the thermal efficiency of heat exchangers under the influence of selected design parameters. The factors analyzed in the research include: temperature difference between the heat transfer surface and the surrounding air, different angles of the units transferring heat and the height of the exchanger casing. Four variants of the casing height were considered in this work. The conducted research also allowed to determine the influence of the fin spacing on the performance of the heat exchangers under natural convection conditions. The test results obtained show that the novel geometry allows for significance improvement of heat transfer efficiency. The proposed solution allowed to increase the density of the heat flux from 12% in (fin spacing of 2.8 mm) up to 24% (fin spacing of 5.6 mm). It was also observed that the height of the casing has significant impact on the heat transfer efficiency. For each of the analyzed cases, the heat exchanger without a casing was characterized by the lowest thermal efficiency, while the highest heat flux was removed from the exchanger with the highest casing (up to four times higher heat transfer rate). It was determined that the largest amount of heat was removed from exchangers located horizontally, while the exchanger with an angle of 60°, was characterized by the lowest rate of heat removal. Another factor which was determined to have significant impact on the performance of the heat exchangers is the spacing between the fins. The research results obtained shows that increasing the spacing of the finned surface from 2.8 mm to 5.6 mm resulted in an average twofold increase in thermal efficiency in the case of four-row exchangers and an almost threefold increase in the case of two-row exchangers. The obtained results can be used as basic guide for the development of finned tube heat exchangers operating under natural convection conditions.

Effect of Hydroxy Gas Addition in Gasoline-ethanol Fuel Mixture on Performance of Spark Ignition Engine

Fossil fuel continues as primary energy source for the transportation industry, particularly for the fuel used in spark ignition (SI) engines. The use of biofuels such as bioethanol is a solution to the reliance on fossil fuels to reduce green-house gas emissions in the atmosphere and improve environmental air quality. However, the use of bioethanol as a fuel for the SI engine has limitations, such as a reduction in power produced as compared to pure gasoline due to the low energy input contained by bioethanol compared to gasoline. The objective of this study is to improve the energy conversion efficiency of the SI engine by adding Hydroxy (HHO) from water electrolysis to the gasoline-bioethanol mixture, allowing for increasing application of bioethanol at higher concentrations as an additive in future. The test was performed on a 155 cc SI engine equipped with an Engine Control Unit (ECU) to control the fuel injection. The pressure, temperature, oxygen, and throttle position sensors located on the engine and connected to a NI-MyRIO microcontroller. The injection duration of HHO gas based on the duration of gasoline fuel injection, both of fuel are injected through each injector at the intake manifold. The result shows the characteristics of HHO gas improved the disadvantages of biofuels, which have a lower heating value and higher flame speed of bioethanol and gasoline fuel. The presence of HHO gas into the bioethanol-gasoline blend affected to increase the produced power, torque and thermal efficiency of the SI engine. An increase in thermal efficiency at 9.16% obtained at concentration of 20% bioethanol and HHO.

CFD modeling of a tubular three-pass solar air heater with phase change material: Investigating heat transfer enhancement and energy efficiency

The present study introduces a novel solar air heater design featuring a tubular surface with three passes arranged in a counter-flow configuration, aimed at improving compactness and enhancing heat transfer characteristics. The research involved the development and validation of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, which was utilized to accurately depict the distribution of solar flux through the system components by comparing the model results with experimental data. The study involved conducting a comparative analysis between the tubular three-pass solar air heater with phase change material (TTPSAH_PCM) and conventional flat plate solar air heaters (FPSAH) to ascertain the superior design characteristics. A thorough investigation was carried out, encompassing evaluations of energy, exergy, outlet temperature, convection heat transfer coefficient, and useful heat gain. The findings indicate that the TTPSAH_PCM outperforms alternative geometries. For instance, when operating at a mass flow rate of 0.006 kg/s, the TTPSAH_PCM demonstrates substantial enhancements in several key metrics, including an 11.4 % increase in the system's daily thermal efficiency, a 17 % improvement in exergy efficiency, and a 4 % rise in outlet air temperature. The convection heat transfer coefficient of TTPSAH_PCM exhibited a 155.6 % increase compared to the FPSAH type. Moreover, the system being investigated demonstrates an 8.5 % rise in useful heat gain. The results underscore the enhanced efficacy of the TTPSAH_PCM system in contrast to alternative solar air heater arrangements, and its applicability for both drying operations and indoor heating applications.

Rational Mode Parameters of Power Units Operating in Modern Energy Market Conditions

The paper analyzes the operation of condensing and heating turbines in modern energy market conditions with an assessment of the impact of operating parameters of live and secondary steam on economic indicators. It has been shown that when operating at variable loads, the most effective in terms of high-pressure turbines is a rational reduction in the initial pressure ps (sliding pressure), which leads to an increase in thermal efficiency by 1-1.5%. The experimental results of a study of the vacuum effect in the condenser on fuel consumption are presented in the paper as well. Using a specific example of the K-320-26.5 turbine unit, the need for a rational choice of cooling water flow in winter season to ensure optimal vacuum is shown. The issue of choosing a rational steam reheat temperature tr is examined in more detail. It has been established that one of the main reasons for the decrease in the efficiency of turbine units when operating in variable modes is the irrational use of the reheat temperature and the heat of phase transition in the flow part of the low pressure cylinder. The physical explanation of these processes in the turbine as tr decreases is given in detail. It has been shown that, as a result of analyzing the operation of turbine units of various capacities, a rational choice of reheat temperature (reducing tr by 10-20 °C) increases thermal efficiency by 1-2 %, and turbine efficiency - by 0.4-1.0 %. It is recommended to consider the pressure of the hot steam of the high pressure cylinder (рs), the pressure in the condenser (рc=f(tcirc.water)), as well as the reheating temperature tr, which altogether leads to a reduction in heat consumption by 2.5-3.5 % as rational parameters of steam when operating in variable modes. In order to increase the economic efficiency of the operation of turbine units of TPPs and CPPs at reduced loads, it is recommended to revise the regulatory documentation on the current amendments for changes in the reheat temperature. It is stated that with strict adherence to the recommendations discussed above, fuel savings at TTPs and CHPs in Ukraine can amount to 250–300 thousand tons of coal per year.

Thermal analysis of an integrated solar combined cycle power plant and its application in southern Iraq

Recently, simple cycle play a significant role in electric power production in Iraq. However, those units suffer from low thermal efficiency and low power output. In the present work, theoretical study is carried out aiming to improve the performance of (AL-Amara station 125MW). The present work includes three parts: the first part focus on the effect of ambient temperature on the performance of simple cycle including mass flow rate, power output, thermal efficiency and other parameters. In the second parts, a modification to simple cycle is implanted to be a combined cycle. The third part is studied the benefit of using solar unit for producing more steam to be supplied to the heat recovery steam generator wishing to produce more power and low emissing. Regarding, to simple gas turbine unit, the obtained results show that the mass flow rate is decreased nearly (10.8%) when the ambient temperature increased from (15-50) ºC. However, this reduction in mass flow rate of air is led to significant reduction in power output and thermal efficiency nearly (22.6%,13.2%) respectively. In the second parts, applying combine mode show a significant increase in power output and thermal efficiency nearly (32.5% and 32.3%) respectively. while the specific fuel consumption is decrease nearly (32.19%). Finally, the third parts when solar units are used, the gathered results show an acceptable increase for the amount of steam produced via solar units (21.02kg/s). The overall performance of the integrated cycle shows that the power output and the thermal efficiency increased nearly (11.28%and10%).

Impact of liquid spectrum filter and solar tracker on the overall effectiveness of a photovoltaic thermal system: An experimental investigation

The purpose of this experimental research is to improve the electrical and thermal efficiency of an innovative photovoltaic thermal setup equipped with a Fresnel lens, a nanofluid-based liquid spectrum filter, and a dual-axis solar tracker. The nanofluid, which is a combination of water and ethylene glycol solution with 0.3 wt% of ZnO nanoparticles, was used as a cooling medium. The experiments were conducted on different days that were generally sunny, hazy, and cloudy. The maximum output power of the setup increased by 4.8% and 23.8% from no-lens to single-lens concentration and from a single-stage lens to a two-stage lens concentration system, respectively. The integration of a two-stage system with a solar tracker further enhances the output power by 6.1%. Significant enhancement in the performance of the system was achieved using nanofluid coolant and sun-tracking technologies. The incident solar radiation was efficiently utilized, resulting in an appreciable increase in thermal and electrical efficiency of 6.96% and 28.85%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed system is efficient and suitable for solar photovoltaic thermal applications.

Combustion characteristics optimization and thermal efficiency enhancement by stratified charge of hydrogen direct injection for argon power cycle hydrogen engine

Argon power cycle hydrogen engine is a novel approach to increasing the thermal efficiency of hydrogen engines while achieving zero CO2 emissions. This paper presents a combination of experiments and simulations used to examine the effects of hydrogen direct injection on the combustion characteristics and thermal efficiency of argon power cycle engines. The results of the study indicate that, in comparison to port hydrogen injection, hydrogen direct injection produces a delay of CA50 exceeding 12.36°CA at an engine speed of 1000 r/min. This delay optimizes combustion and diminishes knock intensity to below 0.1 MPa by creating a stratified mixture, which in turn decelerates the combustion rate. Through adjusting hydrogen direct injection timing and incorporating super lean combustion, a maximum gross indicated thermal efficiency of 53.72% is achieved. By optimizing the first injection timing, the second injection timing, and the second injection ratio, dual hydrogen direct injection can significantly suppress knock and increase thermal efficiency compared with original single hydrogen injection conditions.

Evaluation of the thermal efficiency of nanofluid flows in flat plate solar collector

In this research, flat plate solar collectors (FPSC) were studied due to their simplicity, low maintenance, and cost-effectiveness. The study focused on comparing FPSC thermal performance using CuO/H2O nanofluids. Experiments were conducted over three months during the Iraqi weather conditions (January, February, and March) with carefully selected nanoparticle concentrations. Data was collected from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M., using various mass flow rates (ranging from 0.003 to 0.076 kg/s). Results showed a direct correlation between temperature and nanoparticle concentrations, with the highest outlet temperature (50°C) observed at 3 P.M. for 1% CuO-water nanofluid. Notably, at 1 P.M. in March, the 1% CuO-water nanofluid exhibited a 32% increase in collector thermal efficiency, surpassing pure water by 11.3%. This would improve the performance of FPSC by achieving higher efficiency increments. These improvements were attributed to the unique physical properties of nanoparticles, their increased surface area, and higher thermal conductivity. The study determined that the optimum nanofluid concentration for superior collector efficiency was 1%.

Research on the Performance Characteristics of a Waste Heat Recovery Compound System for Series Hybrid Electric Vehicles

In this paper, a waste heat recovery compound system for series hybrid electric vehicles is established. The existing components of vehicle air conditioning are used in the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to realize miniaturization. The waste heat recovery compound system is constructed using GT-SUITE, and the objective of the analysis is to increase the power output and engine thermal efficiency increase ratio (ETEIR). The effects of the expander speed, pump speed, working fluid mass flow rate, and working fluid type on the waste heat recovery compound system are analyzed. The simulation results show that the optimal schemes for the ORC system and compound system corresponding to the expander speed and pump speed are 1000 pm, 2500 rpm, 1200 rpm, and 2500 rpm, respectively. Compared with the ORC system, the maximum power output of the compound system with the same working fluid in three states (1500 rpm, 2500 rpm, and 3500 rpm) of the engine is increased by 21.67%, 24.05%, and 28.23%, respectively. Working fluid supplies of 0.4 kg/s, 0.4 kg/s, and 0.6 kg/s in the three engine states are also considered the best solutions. The working fluid R1234yf and R1234ze are the preferred choices for a waste heat recovery compound system, which have a high system power output and ETEIR and are environmentally friendly.

Investigating thermal performance enhancement in perforated pin fin arrays for cooling electronic systems through integrated CFD and deep learning analysis

Pin fin heat sinks have garnered considerable attention within the realm of thermal management for high-heat-flux electronics systems. This study advances the understanding of perforated pin fin systems, offering novel insights into heat transfer enhancement. The research explores circular and square perforation geometries located at varying positions along the pin fin length, aiming to enhance heat dissipation and extend the lifespan of electronic components. A parametric analysis examines the impact of perforation quantity on thermal performance with a rigorous comparison against non-perforated pin fins. The investigation incorporates machine learning techniques, including artificial neural networks, to predict cooling system thermal efficiency. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations and Artificial Neural Network modeling, the obtained results indicate the optimal design mode is the use of 3 square holes on the pin fin, which leads to an increase in thermal efficiency by 16.63% compared to the case without pin fins. Additionally, the mean absolute error value calculated across all data extracted from the computational fluid dynamics simulation for predicting thermal efficiency was 2.25%. This low error value further demonstrates the accuracy of the simulation data and neural network model in predicting the heat transfer performance of the pin fin designs.

Study of gas radiation effect on the performance of single-pass solar heaters with an air gap

This paper investigates the performance of solar gas heaters that utilize an air gap between the glass cover and the absorber, along with radiating gas. By using a participating fluid as the working gas, thermal radiation can be absorbed, emitted, and scattered, enhancing the heat transfer between the absorber and the flowing gas. Free convection airflow inside the air gap adds to the forced convection airflow through the solar collector's duct. The study utilizes the κ-ε model and the discrete ordinate method for radiative intensity computation to analyze the flow and energy equations. Numerical results indicate a significant increase in thermal efficiency, particularly at lower gas mass flow rates, when employing radiating gases with high radiative absorption coefficients. The research shows about 40% improvement in thermal efficiency is obtained in test cases at a gas mass flow rate of 0.01 kg/s. A gas flow optical thickness of τ = 2 is found to be optimal among the investigated parameters. In addition, this paper demonstrates high efficiency of up to 70% for plane solar collectors without the need for configuration changes by using working gases with high radiative properties, such as pressurized CO2.

Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of a novel CCHP system integrated energy storage in large seagoing vessel

To advance sustainable development and emission reduction efforts within the maritime industry, a novel combined cooling, heating, power, and storage (CCHPS) system is proposed. This system comprises a cogeneration system (ORC + ARC) and a thermal energy storage (TES) system. Initially, optimal working fluids are selected for the ORC and TES discharge systems. Subsequently, an analysis is conducted regarding the correlation between sensitivity parameters and system performance. Then, the cogeneration system's optimum design parameters are determined utilizing the multi-objective grey wolf optimization (MOGWO) algorithm. Finally, the TES system is analyzed and matched with the diesel generators to meet the ship's electricity demand. The CCHPS system achieves optimal thermal efficiency, payback period, annual CO2 emission reduction, and annual fuel savings of 30.07%, 6.22 years, 8910.49 tons, and 2791.74 kL, respectively. In contrast to the TES-absent system, the CCHPS system exhibits a 12.88% increase in thermal efficiency, along with a 25.48% improvement in annual fuel savings and annual CO2 emission reduction.

INVESTIGATION OF HYBRID PHOTOVOLTAIC /THERMAL SOLAR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE UNDER IRAQ'S CLIMATE CONDITIONS

The research investigates the use of fins fastened to a solar panel's rear surface for passive cooling. The research compared solar modules with air cooling against modules with connected fins acting as a heat sink. The comparison was based on the former. The research studies the cooling of modules with fins using two different types of air: ventilation air and still air. By comparing the heat transmission by photovoltaic panels with and without fins, the research sought to analyses the effects of the environment and solar radiation on the performance of solar cells. The inquiry was done hypothetically. According to the findings, using fins for cooling reduced cell temperature and improved electrical and thermal efficiency. The estimated performance values of the PVT solar cell obtained by using the COMSOL program and the experimental measurements carried out during the daytime were reasonably in accord. The biggest reduction in cell temperature is (3.7ºC at noon), while the greatest increases in electrical and thermal efficiency are (16.54% and 58.3%, respectively). There is good agreement between experimental and numerical results.

Development of a novel multi-fidelity meta modeling approach for robust multi-objective optimization of a natural gas-hydrogen/diesel dual fuel engine

Multi-fidelity modeling (MFM) is an evolving field that matches low-fidelity models (LFM) and high-fidelity models (HFM) to get better solutions with low computational cost. However, improving the duality between accuracy and computational cost remain challenging, particularly for complex problems such as dual fuel engines. This paper contributes to the MF modeling cost-effectiveness improvement by proposing a new approach to solve large-dimensional multi-objective optimization problems. The first step is to build a meta-model based on the LF model, which will be subjected to a comet-governed analysis to detect potential areas where the uncertainty on the LF model is relatively high. Then, a design of experiment (DOE) will be developed based on the results of this analysis to construct an initial HF model. Finally, an iterative loop will be activated to improve the accuracy of the MF model using a well-weighed combination of the details delivered by the LF model correction via the HF model and the HF meta-model. The developed approach is validated on four different mathematical benchmarks with different difficulties, compared with four different MF modeling strategies. This validation shows that the proposed MF modeling is competitive and can produce solutions as accurate as the HF model while reducing significantly the overall computation time by up to 50%. As an engineering application, the operating conditions in a natural gas-hydrogen/diesel dual fuel engine in terms of compression ratio, pilot injection timing, and EGR are optimized. A reduction of 46%, 68%, and 96% was achieved for HC, NOx, and the knocking index, respectively, while an increase in thermal efficiency of about 5% was obtained.

Experimental determination for optimal position of reflector in solar water heater

An experimental investigation was carried out on novel solar water heater that utilizes a flat reflector positioned underneath the absorber tubes. Experiments were conducted at National Institute of Technology Patna, India, having latitude 25.61°N and longitude 85.14° E and constant insolation of 1000 The experimental data were collected for different reflector positions i.e. δ = 0 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm, 45 mm, and 60 mm and six mass flow rates of working fluid i.e. 0.0056 kg s−1, 0.0097 kg s−1, 0.0138 kg s−1, 0.0207 kg s−1, 0.0277 kg s−1, and 0.0346 kg−1s. The obtained experimental results exhibited that the location of the reflector relative to the absorber tubes significantly affects the thermal performance of the system. The effect of the mass flow rate on the outlet temperature, thermal performance, and overall performance has also been studied. For the present system under energy and exergy analysis, the optimal position of the reflector was found of δ = 30 mm. The results showed that the solar water heater with an optimally positioned reflector has a 23% increase in thermal efficiency compared to the solar water heater without a reflector. The novelty of using a flat reflector underneath absorber tube is to provide heat to rear side of the absorber tubes after reflecting the insolation falling on the reflector and hence improvement in the thermal performance of the solar water heater. The scope of present system includes providing an eco-friendly and energy-efficient solution for residential and commercial hot water needs. Limitations of the present study are requirement of sufficient roof space and direct sunlight. The use of reflectors has implications for energy savings, more efficient system designs, and enhanced thermal performance.

Sensitivity analysis of the thermal performance of a parabolic trough concentrator using Al2O3 and SiO2/Vegetable oil as heat transfer fluid

This paper aims to highlight the use of different heat transfer fluid (HTF) configurations based on vegetable oils in Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator (PTSC). Rapeseed and jatropha oils as innovative heat transfer materials combined with SiO2 and Al2O3 to obtain six (6) HTF configurations are used in a 1-dimensional PTSC model. The thermophysical properties of the nanofluids are determined from correlations derived from the literature, using Gauss-Seidel method from a numerical code developed in Matlab software. Model validation is obtained. Thermal sensitivity analysis shows that the use of rapeseed increases the thermal efficiency of the PTSC by around 4.21 % compared with jatropha. The use of nanofluids reduces thermal losses within the system due to thermal gradients. For a fixed irradiance and each 1 %–4 % increase in volume fraction, thermal efficiency increases by around 1.96 % when Al2O3/rapeseed is used and by 0.47 % when SiO2/rapeseed is used compared with rapeseed. Similarly, thermal efficiency increases by around 1.98 % when Al2O3/jatropha is used and decreases by around 0.20 % when SiO2/jatropha is used compared with jatropha. However, the positive effects of nanoparticles on thermal conductivity alone are not always sufficient to improve thermal efficiency, and thermal effects on heat capacity should also be considered.