Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A vessel for transporting and/or storing of enriched uranium hexafluoride with U235 isotope levels greater than five weight percent but less than 20 weight percent, comprising:a base having a body and one or more end members that define an internal region having a volume V storing enriched uranium hexafluoride, wherein the vessel is subdivided into isolated compartments wherein the weight percentage of the enriched uranium hexafluoride stored in the vessel is controlled by geometry of subdivided compartments. 2. The vessel as defined in claim 1, further comprising:a valve suitable to fluidly communicate enriched uranium hexafluoride, the valve being operatively connected to the one or more end members and in fluid communication with only one of the subdivided compartments; and,means for protecting the valve. 3. The vessel as defined in claim 2, further comprises:protective shipping package at least partially encapsulating the vessel. 4. A vessel for transporting enriched uranium hexafluoride, comprising:a cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends defining an internal region;first and second domed end members each defining a center and a circumferential edge, wherein the first and second domed end members are uniformly arched from the center to the circumferential edge, the first and second end members being fusion welded to the first and second ends of the cylindrical body respectively, wherein the first and second end members are concave with respect to the internal region;wherein the cylindrical body and the first and second ends define a shell having an internal volume V, wherein the shell is subdivided into a first compartment containing enriched uranium hexafluoride and a second isolated compartment devoid of enriched uranium hexafluoride, wherein the first and second compartments are fluidly isolated with respect to each other, wherein the second isolated compartment is generally longitudinal extending from the first domed end member to the second domed end member and center about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body;a valve suitable to fluidly communicate radioactive material, the valve being operatively connected to the first domed end member and in fluid communication exclusively with the first compartment;a valve cover operatively attached to the vessel, wherein the valve cover includes valve cover cap and a valve cover base incorporating one or more o-rings for inhibiting fluid from passing into the valve cover;first and second chimes fixedly attached to and extending axially from distal ends of the vessel; and,a protective shipping package. 5. A vessel for storing and transporting radioactive material, comprising:a tubular body defining tubular body ends;first and second domed end members fixedly attached to respective ends of the tubular body thereby forming a shell that defines an interior region for storing radioactive material, wherein the interior region of the shell is subdivided into first and second compartments fluidly isolated by one or more wall members, wherein the first compartment defines a first volume storing radioactive material, wherein the second compartment has a geometry that defines a second volume limiting the weight percentage of radioactive material stored in the vessel; and,a valve suitable to fluidly communicate radioactive material, the valve being operatively connected to the first domed end member and in fluid communication exclusively with the first compartment. 6. The vessel as defined in claim 5, further comprising:a protective shipping package encapsulating the vessel. 7. The vessel as defined in claim 6, further comprising:an annular chime fixedly attached to the vessel and extending axially from the first domed end member for protecting the valve from damage. 8. The vessel as defined in claim 7, further comprising:a valve cover completely encapsulating the valve for protecting the valve. 9. The vessel as defined in claim 8, wherein the valve cover comprises:a valve cover cap; and,a valve cover base incorporating one or more o-rings for inhibiting fluid from passing into the valve cover. 10. The vessel as defined in claim 8, wherein the valve cover is recessed with respect to an end of the annular chime. 11. The vessel as defined in claim 7, wherein the vessel includes first and second chimes extending from distal ends of the vessel, wherein the first chime is substantially longer than the second chime. 12. The vessel as defined in claim 5, wherein the tubular body and the first and second domed end members are constructed from ASME SA-516 grade 70 carbon steel. 13. The vessel as defined in claim 12, wherein the first and second domed end members are curved from a center point to a circumferential edge; and,wherein the first and second domed end members are concavely oriented with respect the interior region. 14. The vessel as defined in claim 5, wherein the tubular body defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the second compartment extends longitudinally from the first domed end member to the second domed end member about the longitudinal axis. 15. The vessel as defined in claim 5, wherein the second compartment defines a volume that limits the amount of radioactive material stored in the vessel such that the Keff of the vessel is less than 1.