Patent ID: 7590213

Claim:
A system for storing spent nuclear fuel comprising: a ground having a grade; a multi-purpose canister for holding spent nuclear fuel, the multi-purpose canister having a bottom surface; a structure forming a cavity having a top, a bottom, a bottom surface, and a horizontal cross-section that can accommodate no more than one of the multi-purpose canister, the structure positioned so that at least a portion of the structure is below the grade; the multi-purpose canister positioned in the cavity; at least one inlet ventilation duct forming an inlet passageway extending from an ambient air inlet located above the grade into the cavity via an outlet located below the grade; at least one outlet ventilation duct forming an outlet passageway extending from within the cavity to ambient air, the outlet passageway located at or near the top of the cavity; means to support the multi-purpose canister in the cavity so that a bottom surface of the multi-purpose canister is lower than a top of the outlet; and wherein the inlet ventilation duct is shaped so that a line of sight does not exist to the multi-purpose canister from the ambient air inlet.