A detailed scientific illustration of a solar thermal energy storage system, with a cutaway showing internal components, next to a building.

A highly realistic, detailed scientific illustration of an advanced solar thermal energy storage system designed for building integration. The device is a vertically-oriented cylindrical structure exposed to direct sunlight on the top surface. Sunlight heats the top of the cylinder, where thermal energy is absorbed and conducted downward. The inner core of the cylinder is filled with phase change material (PCM) to store heat, while the outer annular region consists of concentric multilayer thermal storage materials that absorb and retain heat efficiently. The entire system is mounted outdoors next to a modern building. Insulated water pipes carry heated water from the device into the building for domestic use, such as bathrooms and kitchens. The image features transparent cutaways showing the internal layered structure and heat flow. No photovoltaic panels or optical fibers are present. Emphasis is on advanced material engineering, scientific clarity, and realistic depiction of thermal transfer. Style is high-resolution, realistic, clean, and technically sophisticated, like a professional engineering visualization or scientific textbook illustration. See more