Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising:an air-intake shell forming a downcomer air-intake cavity;a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a substantially vertical storage cavity, the plurality of storage shells arranged so as to surround the air-intake shell in a side-by side relationship;a hermetically sealed canister for holding high level waste positioned in one or more of the storage cavities so that a gap exists between the storage shell and the canister, the storage cavities having horizontal cross-sections that accommodate no more than one of the canisters;a removable lid positioned atop each of the storage shells so as to form a lid-to-shell interface, each lid containing an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and the storage cavity;a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed fluid passageways between a bottom portion of the downcomer air-intake cavity and a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities;the downcomer air-intake cavity forming a passageway from the ambient environment to the network of pipes; andwherein the network of pipes is configured so that the quantity of air drawn by each of the storage shells adjusts to comply with Bernoulli's law. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the network of pipes is configured so that two different paths exist through the hermetically sealed fluid passageway from the downcomer air-intake cavity to each of the storage cavities without passing through any of the other storage cavities. 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a lid positioned atop the air-intake shell and containing an inlet vent forming a passageway between the ambient environment and the air-intake cavity. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the network of pipes comprises one or more headers that fluidly couple the storage shells to the air-intake shell. 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a layer of insulating material circumferentially surrounding the storage shells. 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:means for supporting the canister in the storage cavity so that a first plenum exists between the canister and a floor of the cavity and a second plenum exists between the canister and the lid, the network of pipes forming passageways between the air-intake cavity and the first plenums, and the outlet vents of the lids forming passageways between an ambient environment and the second plenums. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced support blocks. 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a radiation shielding body surrounding the storage shells. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the radiation shielding body is a concrete monolith. 10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a ground having a grade; andwherein the storage shells are positioned so that at least a major portion of a height of each storage shell is located below the grade, the network of pipes being located below the grade, and the downcomer air-intake cavity forming a passageway between an opening located above the grade and the network of pipes. 11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a radiation absorbing material surrounding each of the storage shells. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the radiation absorbing material is selected from a group consisting of concrete, an engineered fill, and soil. 13. The system of claim 10 wherein the lids positioned atop the storage shells are located above the grade. 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the storage shells, the air-intake shell, and the network of pipes are hermetically sealed to ingress of below grade liquids. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein all connections between the network of pipes, the storage shells, and the air-intake shell are hermetic. 16. The system of claim 1 wherein the gaps that exist between the storage shells and the canisters are annular gaps. 17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:wherein each storage cavity comprises a first plenum between the canister and a floor of the storage cavity and a second plenum between the canister and the lid, the annular gaps forming passageways between the first and second plenums, the network of pipes forming passageways between the downcomer air-intake cavity and the first plenums, and the outlet vents of the lids forming passageways between the ambient environment and the second plenums. 18. A ventilated system for storing high level waste having a heat load, the system comprising:an array of substantially vertically oriented shells arranged in a side-by-side relation, each shell forming a cavity;at least one hermetically sealed canister for holding high level waste positioned in one of the cavities, the cavities having horizontal cross-sections that accommodate no more than one of the canisters;a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed fluid passageways between bottom portions of all of the cavities;wherein at least one of the cavities is empty so as to allow cool air to enter the network of pipes; andwherein the network of pipes is configured so that at least two different paths exist through the hermetically sealed fluid passageways from the empty cavity to each of the remaining cavities without passing through any of the other cavities. 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the shells are positioned so that at least a major portion of a height of each shell is located below grade, the network of pipes being located below grade, and the lids located above grade. 20. A ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising:an air-intake shell forming a downcomer air-intake cavity;a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a substantially vertical storage cavity, the plurality of storage shells arranged so as to surround the air-intake shell in a side-by side relationship;a removable lid positioned atop each of the storage shells so as to form a lid-to-shell interface;an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of the storage cavity for each storage shell;a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed fluid passageways between a bottom portion of the downcomer air-intake cavity and a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities;the downcomer air-intake cavity forming a passageway from the ambient environment to the network of pipes; andwherein the network of pipes is configured so that two different paths exist through the hermetically sealed fluid passageway from the downcomer air-intake cavity to each of the storage cavities without passing through any of the other storage cavities.