The aim of this work is the modeling by a numerical approach of the behavior of a compound parabolic trough concentrator (CPC) with double glazing using a nanofluid as working fluid. The base fluid is jatropha oil for it does not have an ecotoxic impact. The thermal oil, jatropha oil, selected takes into account the constraints related to sustainable development by reconciling ecological, social and economic aspects. The nanofluid used is aluminum oxide having a cylindrical shape with a dimension of 20 nm added to jatropha oil (Al2O3+jatropha oil). The volume fraction of the nanofluid is 10%. The numerical model developed is based on the detailed analysis of the different forms of heat transfer that occur in the CPC. The equilibrium equations for each element of the system have been set up. The different heat exchanges that took place in each compartment of the CPC were described. The heat transfer equations were solved by the Gauss-Seidel’s method. An advanced difference scheme is used for the storage terms and a decentered scheme for the transport terms. The numerical simulation has been implemented by matlab code. The effects of varying the mass flow rate and the width of the CPC canopy on the different parameters such as the fluid outlet temperature and the thermal efficiency of the collector are analyzed. The theoretical results showed that the lower the mass flow rate, the higher the fluid outlet temperature and thermal efficiency. They also establish that as the width increases the fluid temperature and thermal efficiency increases. The opening angle and the reflectance coefficient have an influence on the CPC operation. The higher these two parameters are, the higher the output temperature.

CPC, Daily Efficiency, Nanofluid, Numerical Simulation, Mass Flow