Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A canister for the receipt of a plurality of fuel basket tubes, comprising:a canister sidewall defining a canister enclosure sized to receive a plurality of fuel basket tubes in side by side relationship, each of the plurality of fuel basket tubes being sized to receive at least one used nuclear fuel assembly therein;a first plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members within the canister enclosure, the first plurality of reinforcing members being spaced radially outward from each other to receive the plurality of fuel basket tubes therebetween, the first plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members including:a vertical reinforcing member sidewall including a major web and two spaced apart minor webs that define a u-shaped cross-section, andupper and lower horizontal ribs interconnecting the major web and the spaced apart minor webs at longitudinally spaced apart portions of the vertical reinforcing member sidewall to provide torsional rigidity to the longitudinal reinforcing member, wherein the upper and lower horizontal ribs extend to the canister sidewall and contact the canister sidewall to transfer heat thereto from the plurality of fuel basket tubes when the plurality of fuel basket tubes are received within the canister enclosure; anda radiation-absorbing panel extending longitudinally within the canister enclosure and interposed between adjacent fuel basket tubes when the plurality of fuel basket tubes are received within the canister enclosure, wherein the plurality of fuel basket tubes are removably contained within the canister enclosure in side by side relationship for storage, transportation and disposal. 2. The canister of claim 1 wherein each of the first plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members are hemispherical and extend perpendicular to the vertical reinforcing member sidewall within the canister enclosure. 3. The canister of claim 1 wherein the u-shaped cross section opens toward the canister sidewall. 4. The canister of claim 1 further including a second plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members positioned atop the first plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members. 5. The canister of claim 1 wherein the radiation-absorbing panel includes borated stainless steel. 6. The canister of claim 1 further including a longitudinal drain port within the canister enclosure.