Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for storing exothermic materials, comprising: a first canister adapted to store exothermic materials therein, comprising:  a first bottom wall;  a side wall extending from said first bottom wall such that said first bottom wall and said side wall form a first hollow structure having a first opening opposite said first bottom wall and defining a first storage volume that exothermic material can be inserted into and supported within; and  at least one alignment channel affixed to and spanning at least partially along said side wall between said first bottom wall and said first opening at the exterior of said first hollow structure; and  a second canister adapted to store exothermic materials therein, comprising:  a bottom support structure adapted to support said first canister when said first bottom wall of said first canister engages said bottom support structure and further adapted to provide at least one bottom opening through which a cooling medium is flowable;  an inner wall extending from said bottom support structure, said bottom support structure and said inner wall forming an inner hollow structure adapted to receive at least a portion of said first canister such that at least one open channel is defined between said inner wall of said inner hollow structure and said side wall of said first canister, said inner hollow structure having an inner opening opposite said bottom support structure;  a plurality of spacer columns affixed to and spanning at least partially along said inner wall between said bottom support structure and said inner opening at the interior of said inner hollow structure, said spacer columns being adapted to establish said at least one open channel;  an outer wall surrounding and spaced from said inner wall; and  a second bottom wall extending between said outer wall and said inner wall such that said outer wall, said second bottom wall, and said inner wall form a second hollow structure having a second opening opposite said second bottom wall and defining a second storage volume that exothermic material can be inserted into and supported within,  said first canister being maintainable in alignment with respect to said second canister by said alignment channel engaging at least one of said spacer columns. 2. The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall of said first canister and said inner wall of said second canister form a cooling medium flow channel therebetween when said first canister is received within said inner hollow structure of said second canister such that a cooling medium is flowable through said cooling medium flow channel from beneath said bottom support structure through said at least one bottom opening and through said at least one open channel, whereby at least a portion of heat transferred to said side wall of said first canister and said inner wall of said second canister from the exothermic material stored within said first canister is dissipated by the cooling medium flowing through said cooling medium flow channel. claim 1 3. The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall of said first canister and said inner wall of said second canister form a cooling medium flow channel therebetween when said first canister is received within said inner hollow structure of said second canister such that a cooling medium is flowable through said cooling medium flow channel from beneath said bottom support structure through said at least one bottom opening and through said at least one open channel, whereby at least a portion of heat transferred to said inner wall of said second canister and said side wall of said first canister from the exothermic material stored within said second canister is dissipated by the cooling medium flowing through said cooling medium flow channel. claim 1 4. The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said first canister is cylindrically shaped. claim 1 5. The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said outer wall and said inner wall of said second canister are cylindrically shaped such that said second storage volume is annularly shaped. claim 1 6. The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 an overpack defining an overpack interior, said overpack interior being configured to receive said first and second canisters therein such that said overpack encases said first and second canisters. 7. The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 an exothermic material inserted within said first storage volume of said first canister. 8. The storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 an exothermic material inserted within said second storage volume of said second canister. 9. The storage system of  claim 2 , wherein said cooling medium flow channel is formed, at least in part, by said spacer columns engaging between said side wall of said first canister and said inner wall of said second canister, each of said spacer columns being adapted to maintain a spaced configuration of a portion of said side wall of said first canister and said inner wall of said second canister. claim 2 10. The storage system of  claim 6 , wherein said outer wall of said second canister and said overpack are configured to form an outer cooling medium flow channel therebetween when said second canister is received within said overpack interior such that a cooling medium is flowable through said outer cooling medium flow channel, whereby at least a portion of heat transferred to said outer wall of said second canister from the exothermic material stored within said second canister is dissipated by the cooling medium flowing through said outer cooling medium flow channel. claim 6 11. The storage system of  claim 7 , wherein said exothermic material is nuclear waste. claim 7 12. The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein said spacer columns and said alignment channel engage each other such that rotation of said first canister about a longitudinal axis thereof is prevented. claim 9 13. The storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom support structure comprises a plurality of beams arranged to support said first canister when said bottom wall of said first canister engages said beams. claim 1 14. The storage system of  claim 8 , wherein said exothermic material is nuclear waste. claim 8 15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein: claim 1 said first bottom wall and said side wall are adapted to transfer heat such that heat dissipated from the exothermic material stored within said first storage volume of said first canister is transferred out of said first storage volume through said first bottom wall and said side wall, and  said inner wall, said outer wall, and said second bottom wall are adapted to transfer heat such that heat dissipated from the exothermic material stored within said second storage volume of said second canister is transferred out of said second storage volume through said inner wall, said outer wall, and said second bottom wall.