Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A dry storage canister for storing spent nuclear fuel rods, the canister comprising:an elongated outer housing having a first end and a second end; andan elongated internal basket provided within the outer housing, the elongated internal basket extending in a region between the first end and the second end of the elongated outer housing, the internal basket having a plurality of separate elongated storage cells, each of the cells comprising a plurality of the spent nuclear fuel rods that have been separated from their respective fuel rod assemblies, the plurality of the spent nuclear fuel rods having a rod packing density of approximately 4 to 6 of the spent nuclear fuel rods per square inch. 2. The canister of claim 1, wherein the spent nuclear fuel rods are contiguous within each of the cells. 3. The canister of claim 1, wherein the outer housing is an elongated cylindrical housing. 4. The canister of claim 1, wherein the internal basket is made of a metal material having a high thermal conductivity. 5. The canister of claim 1, wherein the internal basket is made of one or more of carbon steel, aluminum, or copper. 6. The canister of claim 1, wherein the internal basket comprises multiple tubes that define the storage cells. 7. The canister of claim 1, further comprising a cask in which the canister is placed. 8. The canister of claim 1, wherein does not include any neutron absorbing material. 9. A dry storage canister for storing spent nuclear fuel rods that have been separated from their fuel rod assemblies, the canister comprising:the spent nuclear fuel rods that have been separated from their fuel rod assemblies and that have been packed together with a rod packing density of approximately 4 to 6 of the spent nuclear fuel rods per square inch; andmeans for housing the spent nuclear fuel rods, wherein the means for housing does not include any neutron absorbing material. 10. The canister of claim 9, wherein the canister further comprises multiple tubes. 11. The canister of claim 9, wherein the spent nuclear fuel rods that have been separated from their fuel rod assemblies are contiguous within each of the cells. 12. The canister of claim 9, further comprising a central tube. 13. The canister of claim 9, further comprising a central tube that provides a space for a drain tube to drain the canister of a neutron moderator. 14. The canister of claim 1, wherein the elongated internal basket comprises a central tube. 15. The canister of claim 1, wherein the elongated internal basket comprises a central tube that provides space for a drain tube to drain the canister of a neutron moderator.