Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for storing high level radioactive waste comprising:an outer shell having an open top end and a hermetically closed bottom end;an inner shell forming a cavity, the inner shell positioned inside the outer shell so as to form a space between the inner shell and the outer shell;at least one passageway through the inner shell connecting the space and a bottom portion of the cavity;at least one passageway connecting an ambient atmosphere and a top portion of the space;a removable lid positioned atop the inner shell, the lid having at least one passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere; anda gasket seal between the lid and the inner shell so as to form a hermetic lid-to-inner shell interface. 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a blanket of insulating material connected to and surrounding the inner shell. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises the at least one passageway that connects the ambient atmosphere and the top portion of the space, the lid positioned atop the outer shell to form a lid-to-outer shell interface. 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a hermetically sealed canister for containing high-level waste positioned within the cavity; andwherein the cavity has a horizontal cross-section that accommodates no more than one canister. 5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:a bottom plenum between a bottom of the canister and a floor of the cavity:a top plenum between a bottom of the lid and a top of the canister; anda clearance existing between an outer side wall of the canister and the inner shell that connects the bottom plenum to the top plenum. 6. A system for storing high level radioactive waste comprising:an outer shell having an open top end and a hermetically closed bottom end:an inner shell forming a cavity, the inner shell positioned inside the outer shell so as to form a space between the inner shell and the outer shell:at least one passageway through shell connecting the space and a bottom portion of the cavity:at least one passageway connecting an ambient atmosphere and a top portion of the space;a removable lid positioned atop the inner shell, the lid having at least one passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere; anda seal between the lid, and the inner shell so as to form a hermetic lid-to-inner shell interface: andwherein the lid comprises a plug portion and a flange portion surrounding the plug portion, the plug portion extending into the cavity and the flange portion resting atop the inner shell and the outer shell. 7. A system for storing high level radioactive comprising:a metal plate;a first metal tubular shell having a top end and a bottom end, the metal plate connected to the bottom end of the first metal tubular shell so as to hermetically close the bottom end of the first metal tubular shell;a second metal tubular shell forming a cavity, the second metal tubular shell positioned within the first metal tubular shell so as to form a space between the first metal tubular shell and the second metal tubular shell;at least one opening in the second tubular shell that forms a passageway connecting the space and a bottom portion of the cavity:a lid comprising a plug portion and a flange portion surrounding the plug portion, the plug portion extending into the cavity and the flange portion resting atop the first metal tubular shell and the second metal tubular shell;at least one passageway connecting the cavity and the ambient atmosphere; andat least one passageway connecting the space and the ambient atmosphere. 8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of spacers between the first metal tubular shell and the second metal tubular shell. 9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a seal between the flange portion of the lid and the second metal tubular shell so as to form a hermetic lid-to-second metal tubular shell interface; and wherein the lid comprises the at least one passageway connecting the cavity to the ambient atmosphere. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the lid comprises the at least one passageway connecting the space and the ambient atmosphere. 11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:a hermetically scaled canister for containing high-level waste positioned within the cavity; andwherein the cavity has a horizontal cross-section that accommodates no more than one canister. 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:a bottom plenum between a bottom of the canister and a floor of the cavity;to top plenum between the lid and a top of the canister;a clearance existing between an outer side wall of the canister and the second metal tubular shell that connects the bottom plenum to the to plenum; andthe lid comprising the at least one passageway connecting the top plenum to the ambient atmosphere. 13. The system of claim 7 further comprising the second tubular shell comprising a plurality of the openings circumferentially and axisymmetrically located about an axis of the cavity. 14. The system of claim 7 wherein the first metal tubular shell and the second metal tubular shell have a thickness in a range between one-half to three inches.