Non-uniform Solar Irradiance Research Articles

Enhancing efficiency of dense array CPV receivers with controlled DC-DC converters and adaptive microfluidic cooling under non-uniform solar irradiance

Concentrating solar technologies offer substantial potential for optimizing solar energy for heat and power generation, particularly in green hydrogen production. This study investigates the use of commercial high efficiency concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells in a central tower concentrating solar system to enhance energy conversion efficiency. By integrating DC-DC converters with self-adaptive microfluidic cooling systems, we address current mismatches and temperature variations that affect CPV performance. The novel receiver design ensures scalability for large-scale implementations by implementing the electrical connections between DC-DC converters and each CPV cell without creating shaded areas. We numerically model and simulate the thermodynamic and electrical characteristics of a dense array CPV receiver, evaluating six illumination profiles. Our results indicate a significant improvement in receiver efficiency compared to the traditional configuration with bypass diodes, demonstrating an increase from 23.4 % to 30.3 % under a central Gaussian illumination profile, and reaching up to 38 % relative efficiency improvement depending on the applied profile. Power transfer losses decrease from 26 % to 10 % when 200 kW/m2 of illumination non-uniformity occurs. The proposed solution enhances reliability and energy conversion efficiency, presenting a viable path forward for large-scale CPV applications.

Configuration optimization of PV array for stratospheric airship under nonuniform radiation condition

The nonuniform solar irradiation on the stratospheric airship surface leads to overlooked mismatch losses in photovoltaic (PV) array. Proper configuration for PV array is crucial but frequently neglected in airship energy system research. In this paper, a mathematical model coupled with the layout of PV array on airship surface, radiation model, electrical model and energy balance model is established. The deployment of PV pack based on the distribution characteristics of solar radiation on airships surface is analyzed. Three maximum power point tracking configurations for the PV array are investigated in detail. The results indicate that mounting PV pack in axial series on stratospheric airships leads to higher power output compared to parallel-connected deployment, PV packs on stratospheric airships exhibit significant output power differences along the circumferential direction and minor differences along the axial direction, the peak of daily maximum output difference ratio is merely 0.4 % between the PV array under the distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) and the partial distributed global maximum point tracking (PDMPPT) configuration, and PDMPPT configuration needs much fewer module, it emerges as the optimal choice for stratospheric airship PV array. This investigation can provide references for the further PV array configuration optimization under nonuniform radiation condition.

Vector-Based Advanced Computation for Photovoltaic Devices and Arrays: Numerical Reproduction of Unusual Behaviors of Curved Photovoltaic Devices

Most equations and models for photovoltaics are based on the assumption that photovoltaic (PV) devices are flat. Therefore, the actual performance of nonplanar PV devices should be investigated and developed. In this study, two algorithms were developed and defined using vector computations to describe a curved surface based on differential geometry and the interaction with non-uniform solar irradiance (i.e., non-uniform shading distribution in the sky). To validate the computational model, the power output from a commercial curved solar panel for the Toyota Prius 40 series was monitored at four orientation angles and in various climates. Then, these were compared with the calculation results obtained using the developed algorithm. The conventional calculation used for flat PV devices showed an overestimated performance due to ignorance of inherent errors due to curved surfaces. However, the new algorithms matched the measured trends, particularly on clear-sky days. The validated computation method for curved PV devices is advantageous for vehicle-integrated photovoltaic devices and PVs including building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs), drones, and agriphotovoltaics.

Comparison of Bioinspired Techniques for Tracking Maximum Power under Variable Environmental Conditions

This paper presents a comparative analysis of bioinspired algorithms employed on a PV system subject to standard conditions, under step-change of irradiance conditions, and a partial shading condition for tracking the global maximum power point (GMPP). Four performance analysis and comparison techniques are artificial bee colony, particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm, and a new metaheuristic technique called jellyfish optimization, respectively. These existing algorithms are well-known for tracking the GMPP with high efficiency. This paper compares these algorithms based on extracting GMPP in terms of maximum power from a PV module running at a uniform (STC), nonuniform solar irradiation (under step-change of irradiance), and partial shading conditions (PSCs). For analysis and comparison, two modules are taken: 1Soltech-1STH-215P and SolarWorld Industries GmbH Sunmodule plus SW 245 poly module, which are considered to form a panel by connecting four series modules. Comparison is based on maximum power tracking, total execution time, and minimum number of iterations to achieve the GMPP with high tracking efficiency and minimum error. Minitab software finds the regression equation (objective function) for STC, step-changing irradiation, and PSC. The reliability of the data (P-V curves) was measured in terms of p value, R, R2, and VIF. The R2 value comes out to be near 1, which shows the accuracy of the data. The simulation results prove that the new evolutionary jellyfish optimization technique gives better results in terms of higher tracking efficiency with very less time to obtain GMPP in all environmental conditions, with a higher efficiency of 98 to 99.9% with less time of 0.0386 to 0.1219 sec in comparison to ABC, GA, and PSO. The RMSE value for the proposed method JFO (0.59) is much lower than that of ABC, GA, and PSO.

A novel method for calculating solar radiation on indoor human body under different weather conditions

Indoor occupants may receive large solar heat that affect their health, productivity, and comfort. Most of previous studies focus on indoor occupants with strong direct solar radiation and weak diffuse radiation. Considering the non-uniform solar radiation distribution in the sky, this study proposes the improved HNU Solar Model, a novel method for calculating solar radiation on indoor human body under different weather conditions. The improved HNU Solar Model proposes a new calculation algorithm for calculating non-uniform radiation distributed on indoor human body under different weather conditions, via adding the human body points, windows points, and clearness index to improve the calculation accuracy; then it converts the human-body-received solar radiation into the increase in the mean radiant temperature (Delta MRT). The calculated Delta MRT values by the improved HNU Solar Model were compared with those calculated by Radiance. The results indicate that, for Delta MRT by total solar radiation on typical days with different weather conditions, the absolute error (AE) and the relative error (RE) of the improved HNU Solar Model are usually less than 1.5 °C and 15%, respectively. For the whole-year hourly Delta MRT values, the corresponding AE and RE are usually less than 1 °C and 15%, respectively. Moreover, according to the proposed model, for large-window buildings in medium-latitude regions, indoor occupants are more exposed to direct solar radiation (63%) than diffuse solar radiation (37%); while diffuse radiation can be the dominant solar heat gain of indoor occupants (up to 55%) in buildings in low-latitude regions.

Quantifying the effects of indoor non-uniform solar radiation on human thermal comfort and work performance in warm season

Window-through solar radiation significantly affects indoor thermal environments as well as human thermal comfort and health. This study aims to investigate occupants’ thermal comfort and work performance with indoor solar radiation conditions in warm season. 24 subjects participated in six field tests with varying solar radiation conditions, while recording environmental, physiological, and psychological parameters. Results indicate that strong solar radiation significantly impacts physiological, psychological responses, and work performance. Specifically, compared to no direct solar radiation condition (only weak diffuse radiation), mean skin temperature increased by 0.6–1.6 °C, while local skin temperature increased by up to 2.7 °C. Additionally, SpO2 decreased and PR increased with higher solar radiation intensity. Besides, averagely, at the same operative temperature (Top) (28 °C), the percentage of thermal discomfort was approximately 18 % higher with direct solar radiation compared to without. The upper limit of the optimal Top range (less than 20 % of the subjects felt thermal discomfort and unproductive) with direct solar radiation (25.1 °C) is about 3 °C lower than without direct solar radiation (28.0 °C). For high willingness to work (90 %), the upper limits of the optimal Top range with and without exposure to direct solar radiation are 24.2 °C and 26.8 °C, respectively.

Effect of nonuniform solar radiation on the performance of solar thermoelectric generators

Solar radiation must be concentrated before irradiating hot sides in solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) to increase the temperature difference between hot and cold sides and thus enhance output performance. However, concentrated solar radiation is often nonuniform. This condition affects the output performance of STEGs. Herein, a thermal–electric coupled model of STEGs was constructed to investigate the thermoelectric performance of STEGs under nonuniform solar radiation. Results demonstrate that when the concentration ratio is low, increasing nonuniformity facilitates the increase in the output power of STEGs. When the concentration ratio is 60, output power increases by a maximum of 3.05 %, whereas the average temperature difference decreases by 4.44 K. When the concentration ratio is high, STEG output power peaks under a specific nonuniformity, and some thermoelectric legs at the edges of STEGs turn into load, affecting the overall STEG output performance. When the cold-side cooling performance is poor, the solar radiation input to STEGs should be made as uniform as possible to ensure the output performance and safe operation of STEGs. The results of this study provide guidance for the design of efficient STEGs.

MPPT Techniques Exploration under Uniform and Non-Uniform Solar Irradiance Condition–A Survey

Solar PV has become increasingly popular in the past decade, both for standalone and grid-connected systems. Solar PV systems exhibit non-linear output characteristics due to weather fluctuations, which can substantially impact the overall PV system’s output. Consequently, selecting the optimal MPPT technique for a given PV system is a complex task, as each method has different strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive examination of these techniques is crucial. A survey of academic publications on ‘Google Scholar’ spanning the past seven years (2015-2022) revealed a total of seventy-one review articles addressing various MPPT techniques. Among the studies, seven have directed their attention toward non-uniform solar irradiance, while four have dedicated their focus to uniform conditions. Surprisingly, none have ventured into the realm of hybrid optimization MPPT techniques. Moreover, several of these reviews have covered a restricted range of MPPT methods, and none have delivered an all-encompassing assessment that encompasses both online and offline strategies for uniform conditions, alongside an evaluation of hybrid MPPT techniques in the context of non-uniform solar irradiance conditions. Unfortunately, there have been minimal efforts in this direction. Consequently, the need of the hour is a comprehensive review paper that encompasses nearly all known MPPT techniques within a single publication. This paper places its primary emphasis on categorizing MPPT algorithms into offline, hybrid, and online optimization techniques, addressing both non-uniform and uniform irradiance scenarios. It serves as a comprehensive resource by consolidating diverse MPPT techniques, presenting their mathematical formulations, operational principles, and visual representations through block diagrams and flowcharts. The objective of this research endeavor is to provide a valuable reference for strategists, researchers, and energy engineers, offering them a roadmap to steer future research endeavors and practical implementations in the realm of optimization of MPPT.

The effect of solar radiation on pedestrian thermal comfort: A climate chamber experiment

Walking promotes human health and well-being. However, increasing temperatures due to global climate change and urban heat islands challenge urban walkability. While people navigate urban settings, they encounter asymmetrical environmental conditions not captured by most thermal comfort models. Critically, these models predominantly factor in the Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) but tend to neglect the effects of non-uniform solar radiation on human comfort. This study delves into the thermal impacts of solar radiation on walking individuals, utilizing a controlled environment with solar simulators. 28 subjects walked on a treadmill, simulating the walking state of pedestrians, under asymmetrical radiation conditions with the source being overhead, in front, behind, and to the side. Participants responded to queries concerning their overall thermal comfort, thermal sensation, and thermal acceptability. In addition, they provided feedback on directional and segmental thermal sensations across various body parts. Our findings revealed that the thermal sensation varied depending on the direction of radiation, and their responses regarding their forearms were most closely related to their whole body. These results provide information that can be valuable in the design of outdoor environments that will be thermally comfortable and will encourage people to walk during hot weather.

Seamless Start-Up of a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System Using Module-Integrated Micro-Converters

In traditional grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) installations, when partial shadowing occurs between different PV modules in a string, bypass diodes short-circuit the output terminals of shadowed modules, and the whole system forgoes their potential energy production. This loss can be recovered if a dc-dc converter (micro-converter) is coupled to every PV module, and operated at the maximum power point (MPP). In this scenario, without communication links between the distributed micro-converter and the grid-tied inverter, a start-up procedure must be carefully designed to seamlessly allow the system to transfer PV power to the grid. During this phase, potentially damaging over-voltages and abrupt transients occurring at the micro-converters/inverter interface must be avoided. In this paper, the control algorithm of each micro-converter is enhanced to provide a smooth start-up operation so that PV units can safely start transferring power to the inverter and the grid. Improving from previous works, the proposed control technique is simple and removes the need for current sensors at the output of each micro-converter and at the inverter dc-link, with an economical advantage. Simulation results demonstrate the successful system start-up behavior, whilst confirming the benefits of the proposed control technique. First, the dc-link is energized from the rectified grid voltage. Then, the micro-converters raise the dc-link voltage so that the available PV power is transferred to the grid, with this sequence of operations not causing any abrupt electrical transient. The results also demonstrate the robust behavior of the PV system under non-uniform solar irradiation conditions.

Flexible Power Control for Extending Operating Range of PV–Battery Hybrid Cascaded H-Bridge Converters Under Unbalanced Power Conditions

Due to the nonuniform solar irradiance, different temperature and inconsistent module features, the output power among each photovoltaic (PV) module in a single-phase cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter is unequal. The H-bridge module with higher power generation faces the risk of overmodulation. To further extending the operating range of the CHB PV inverter under unity power factor condition, a battery module is connected with the system in series to form a PV-battery hybrid CHB converter in this paper. Meanwhile, the corresponding flexible power control strategy is proposed. The injected power of the battery module is controlled adaptively according to the maximum modulation index (MI) of all PV modules. With the proposed approach, all PV modules are free from overmodulation even with severe power imbalance and thus more energy are harvested. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is verified by experimental results.

MODEL DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC-THERMOELECTRIC SYSTEM BY INTEGRATING AND OPTIMIZING PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS

Integrating phase change materials (PCMs) with concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric (PV-TE) systems can effectively control the interface temperature between PV and TE components and improve the full solar-spectrum utilization efficiency. However, since the structure of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric (PV-PCM-TE) systems is complex and the temperatures among the components are coupled and affect each other, the photo-thermal-electric conversion characteristics under the actual physical properties need to be analyzed by a more detailed model, and the suitable operating conditions for PV-PCM-TE systems remain clear. There is still a lack of the method for improving the system performance. Therefore, a three-dimensional transient model is established herein by combining the Monte Carlo ray-tracing method and finite volume method to simulate the complex energy conversion processes of the PV-PCM-TE system. Based on this, performances of PV-PCM-TE, PV-TE, and PV systems are compared under different operating conditions, and the applicable conditions for PV-PCM-TE systems are analyzed. Then effects of key parameters of the phase change module are investigated. In the end, to further improve the system performance, a partition screening method of PCM is proposed considering the nonuniform solar radiation on photovoltaic surfaces, and the selection and layout area of PCMs are optimized. The results present that the applicable operating conditions are low concentration ratio (< 20) and low heat transfer coefficient (< 20 W·m<sup>-2</sup>·K<sup>-1</sup>). In terms of structural parameters, the system power generation is most significantly affected by the width. In terms of PCM physical properties, it is most affected by the PCM density, followed by latent heat. For different concentration ratios, there are different optimal melting points to achieve the highest power generation. The proposed PCM partition screening method can efficaciously control PV-TE interface temperature, and reduce photovoltaic cells' temperature by 47°C. The system efficiency can be increased by 4.8% and 4.2% after the optimization compared with that of the single PV cell and the traditional PV-TE system, respectively.

Relative flow direction modes and gradual porous parameters for radiation transport and interactions with thermochemical reaction in porous volumetric solar reactor

The reformation of methane to hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a solar volumetric reactor is a promising method to use the solar energy, which converts solar energy into chemical energy. Due to the non-uniform solar radiation at the optical aperture and the complex flow and radiation in porous media, the relative flow direction modes and porous parameters of the reactor should be carefully designed to improve the thermochemical reaction performance and reliability. In this contribution, three different relative flow direction modes are designed, which innovatively investigate the effects on the relative direction between solar radiation and fluid flow in the volumetric reactor. In addition, the local non-thermal equilibrium model is applied and the effect of the porous medium on the concentrated transmission characteristics of solar irradiation is considered. Moreover, the Gaussian Distribution Model (GDM) is applied to simulate the actual characteristics of concentrated solar energy. The results show that opposite inlet mode (OI) has the highest methane conversion rate, which is 46.43%. Then, based on OI, the gradual porosity and porous diameter distributions are designed and their effects on the methane conversion are analyzed. The methane conversion can reach 54.3% by employing a quadratic distribution for the porosity and the use of layered aperture arrangement can further improve the conversion rate to 58.96%. This contribution can provide a guidance for porous volumetric solar reactor design to improve the thermochemical reactions performance and reliability.

Enhanced energy output from a PV system under partial shaded conditions through grey wolf optimizer

Due to its several powerful characteristics, the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm has recently become widely used in numerous optimization problems. In photovoltaic (PV) systems, power-voltage (P–V) curves present multiple maxima in case of partial shadow or modules mismatch which can be viewed as an optimization problem. In this paper, a GWO-based maximum power tracking (MPPT) algorithm for PV systems operating under partial shading conditions (PSCs) is proposed. With a direct control method, the proposed GWO-based MPPT allows successfully catching the global maximum power point (GMPP) of the PV array in case of uniform and non-uniform solar irradiation. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed MPPT scheme, a co-simulation combining Matlab/Simulink™ and Cadence/Pspice™ software environments is carried out and tested under various static and dynamic shading conditions. Furthermore, the tracking performance is compared with that of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and classical perturb and observe (P&O) based MPPT methods under transient PSCs and also under inhomogeneous real conditions of Algerian sky. The simulation results have demonstrated the satisfactory performances of the proposed approach in terms of tracking efficiency and tracking speed over the other MPPT methods.

A new methodology of thermal performance improvement and numerical analysis of free-falling particle receiver

Free-falling particle receiver is a promising candidate for the receivers in the 3rd-generation concentrated solar power plants. In this paper, an integrated numerical model is established by combining the complete Monte Carlo ray-tracing method and finite volume method to investigate the complex energy conversion processes of the receiver. Based on the model, influential effects of key parameters on the receiver efficiency (η) are analyzed including the particle release location and the solar absorptivity of cavity walls. Then, the variation of η in a day is obtained. In the end, to further improve η, a novelty methodology called ‘non-uniform particle mass flow rate control’ is proposed based on the ‘optical-thermal matching’ principle to accommodate curtain opacity to non-uniform solar irradiation. The results present that the center of the top cavity wall is the optimum location to release particles. The reduction of the solar absorptivity of cavity walls can significantly improve η. Compared with molten salt receivers, the operating time per day of the particle receiver is shorter under the condition of high temperature. The proposed non-uniform mass flow control approach can improve η by a maximum value of 2.7 percentage points. The results indicate that the integrated numerical model established in this paper can accurately predict the optical-thermal performance of the free-falling particle receiver, and can be applied to the design and optimization of free-falling particle receivers.

Numerical simulation of effect of non-uniform solar irradiation on nanofluid turbulent flow

In current modeling, solar collector has been analyzed in term of collector efficiency and irreversibility with considering variable solar irradiation. These two factors as well as performance factor are main functions which should be considered to reach the best design. Irreversibility due to heating declines with rise of wind speed due to slightly reduction in temperature of various zones. Sgen,th (Thermal irreversibility) declines about 2.82% with rise of wind speed when t = 17 h, Tin = 293.15, V̇=4.12. Sgen,f (Frcitional irreversibility) experienced augmentation with rise of inlet temperature. Augmentation of Sgen,f with rise of V̇is about 5.34% which is reported for t = 9 h, Tin = 293.15, uwind = 5 m/s. As Tin rises, temperature of whole system rises and minimum changes occur for air gap zone. At V̇=4.12, uwind = 1 m/s, Tin = 293.15 K, temperature of tube augments with rise of time from 9 to 13 h about 0.916% while it decreases about 2.47% with growth of time from 13 to 17 h. Due to augmenting solar heat flux at t = 13 h, the maximum ηth can be achieved. Thermal efficiency experiences reduction with rise of wind speed because of greater heat loss which reduces temperature of nanomaterial.

Experimental and numerical study on thermal performance of an indirectly irradiated solar reactor with a clapboard-type internally circulating fluidized bed

Fluidized-bed based solar reactors for the gasification of biomass have been widely recognized as a promising approach to produce high-quality syngas due to the merits, e.g. continuous operation and superior heat and mass transport. In this work, a novel high-temperature solar reactor with a clapboard-type internally circulating configuration that can efficiently mitigate the overheating of the bed wall affected by non-uniform solar radiation, is designed, constructed, and experimentally investigated under Singapore’s first 28 kWe high-flux solar simulator. To investigate the flow dynamics in the high-temperature solar reactor, a transient 3D computational fluid dynamics multi-phase model is developed accordingly and validated by the experimental data. The simulated results can well clarify the flow and thermal behaviours in experiments. The effects of the gas flow rate and bed mass on the thermal performances of different Group-B particle materials are studied through experiments and simulation. The results indicate that increasing the bed mass in the solar reactor is capable of mitigating the overheating of the absorber surface caused by hot spots. The gas flow rate is dependent on the particle thermo-physical properties and shape as well as the clapboard geometric parameters. The highest solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency (defined as the ratio of the accumulated sensible heat of the particles to the solar power input) of 10.7 ± 0.4% is achieved by SiC due to its superior thermal conductivity.

Artificial Intelligence and Bio-Inspired Soft Computing-Based Maximum Power Plant Tracking for a Solar Photovoltaic System under Non-Uniform Solar Irradiance Shading Conditions—A Review

Substantial progress in solar photovoltaic (SPV) dissemination in grid-connected and standalone power generation systems has been witnessed during the last two decades. However, weather intermittency has a non-linear characteristic impact on solar photovoltaic output, which can cause considerable loss in the system’s overall output. To overcome these inevitable losses and optimize the SPV output, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is mounted in the middle of the power electronics converters and SPV to achieve the maximum output with better precision from the SPV system under intermittent weather conditions. As MPPT is considered an essential part of the SPV system, up to now, many researchers have developed numerous MPPT techniques, each with unique features. A Google Scholar survey from 2015–2021 was performed to scrutinize the number of published review papers in this area. An online search established that on different MPPT techniques, overall, 100 review articles were published; out of these 100, seven reviews on conventional MPPT techniques under shading or partial shading and only four under non-uniform solar irradiance are published. Unfortunately, no dedicated review article has explicitly focused on soft computing MPPT (SC-MPPT) techniques. Therefore, a comprehensive review of articles on SC-MPPT techniques is desirable, in which almost all the familiar SC-MPPT techniques have to be summarized in one piece. This review article concentrates explicitly on soft computing-based MPPT techniques under non-uniform irradiance conditions along with their operating principles, block/flow diagram. It will not only be helpful for academics and researchers to provide a future direction in SC-MPPT optimization research, but also help the field engineers to select the appropriate SC-MPPT for SPV according to system design and environmental conditions.

A novel prime numbers-based PV array reconfiguration solution to produce maximum energy under partial shade conditions

Non-uniform solar irradiance on the photovoltaic arrays decreases the output power due to the partial shading conditions. In this paper, the distribution of shade in the photovoltaic array rows is done by reconfiguring the shaded modules related to the photovoltaic array. The method proposed in this paper is a static approach based on prime numbers. Due to the pattern of prime numbers, it reconfigures the shaded modules in each row. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is done by testing five different shading patterns in 9×9 and one 23×23 Total-Cross-Tied PV arrays. The ability and superiority of the proposed method are tested by comparing the results of the suggested method of prime numbers with the results of the Total-Cross-Tied, Sudoku, optimal Sudoku, improved Sudoku, and Dominance square methods. Comparison and evaluation of the results are done by different statistical performance indicators. The evaluations showed that the prime numbers procedure with the values of 9.15%, 7.72%, 8.21%, 8.83%, 8.95%, and 8.77% for cases 1 to 6, respectively, had the highest power factor compared to other methods employed. In addition, the suggested method has the lowest mismatch power losses compared to other procedures by achieving the values of 3.84%, 4.87%, 4.53%, 4.10%, 3.97%, and 4.19% in cases 1–6, respectively. The results of the comparisons strongly emphasize the high ability of the proposed method compared to other methods studied. It should be noted that scalability, high-performance speed, and low cost are important advantages of the prime number method so that this method can be implemented on real-world PV arrays.

Dynamic thermal stress analysis of PCM-glazed unit under intermittent solar irradiation

ABSTRACT In this study, a multi-physics coupled mathematical model was established on thermal stress distribution of double-glazed units with phase-change material (PCM-glazed) for the transient temperature fields and non-uniform intermittent solar irradiation, and the mathematical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results, which shows that the developed model in present work can solve the coupled thermal stress distribution problem between phase change and intermittent solar irradiation in the PCM-glazed. A case that is the thermal stress distribution on the surface of glazed unit filled with paraffin under the outdoor variable temperature and non-uniform intermittent solar irradiation was studied in autumn in cold region of China. The results show that the stress produced on the surface of glazed unit filled with paraffin varies obvious, PCM layer between the glass panes significantly affects the stress values at different time, which can, respectively, reach up to about 4.59MPa and down to −3.9MPa for tensile and compressive strains once the paraffin in liquid state, due to improved thermal conductivity of PCM throughout phase transition to liquid. Additionally, the frame is the key factor causing temperature gradient of PCM-glazed unit, and the biggest tensile stress appears at the edge. The influence range of the frame on the surface temperature and stress of the PCM-glazed unit is limited and different, and the largest influence distance of the surface temperature and stress from the edge is 0.1 m and 0.03 m, respectively.