In this paper, results of a thermodynamic analysis using the entropy generation minimisation method for a parabolic trough receiver tube making use of a synthetic oil-Al2O3 nanofluid as a heat transfer fluid are presented. A parabolic trough collector system with a rim angle of 80 and a concentration ratio of 86 was used. The temperature of the nanofluid considered was in the range of 350-600 K. The nanofluid thermal physical properties are temperature dependent. The Reynolds number varies from 3560 to 1,151,000, depending on the temperature considered and volume fraction of nanoparticles in the base fluid. Nanoparticle volume fractions in the range 0 <= phi <= 8% were used. The local entropy generation rates due to fluid flow and heat transfer were determined numerically and used for the thermodynamic analysis. The study shows that using nanofluids improves the thermal efficiency of the receiver by up to 7.6%. There is an optimal Reynolds number at each inlet temperature and volume fraction for which the entropy generated is a minimum. The optimal Reynolds number decreases as the volume fraction increases. There is also a Reynolds number at every inlet temperature and volume fraction beyond which use of nanofluids is thermodynamically undesirable. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.