High-density subterranean storage system for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste

An underground passively ventilated nuclear waste storage system comprising:

• a horizontal longitudinal axis;
• a horizontally extending concrete top pad located at grade and having a top surface;
• a horizontally extending subterranean concrete base pad located below grade and spaced vertically apart from the top pad;
• a horizontally broadened flat support plate fixedly anchored on the base pad and having a top surface;
• a vertically elongated first cavity enclosure container fixedly mounted on the support plate along the longitudinal axis, the first cavity enclosure container having a cylindrical body defining a vertical centerline axis and comprising a first air inlet, a second air inlet, an air outlet, and an internal cavity;
• the internal cavity of the first cavity enclosure container being configured for holding a single nuclear waste canister which contains radioactive nuclear waste emitting heat;
• the first cavity enclosure container including a bottom end disposed on the support plate, a top end terminating adjacent to the top surface of the top pad, and a lid removably coupled to the top end and defining an air outlet in fluid communication with the internal cavity;
• a vertically elongated first cooling air feeder shell fixedly mounted on the support plate and spaced apart from the first cavity enclosure container, the first cooling air feeder shell having a top end located at or above the top surface of the top pad and operable to draw in ambient air, and a bottom end located on the support plate, the first cooling air feeder shell being fluidly coupled directly to the first air inlet of the first cavity enclosure container via a first flow conduit;
• a vertically elongated second cooling air feeder shell fixedly mounted on the support plate and spaced apart from the first cavity enclosure container and the first cooling air feeder shell, the second cooling air feeder shell having a top end located at or above the top surface of the top pad and operable to draw in ambient air, and a bottom end located on the support plate, the second cooling air feeder shell being fluidly coupled directly to the second air inlet of the first cavity enclosure container via a second flow conduit;
• a first plurality of cross-support members horizontally coupled between the first cavity enclosure container and each of the first and second cooling air feeder shells;
• a second plurality of cross-support members horizontally coupled between the first and second cooling air feeder shells;
• wherein the support plate and cross-support members form a rigid self-supporting modular unit for transporting and installing the first cavity enclosure container and the first and second cooling air feeder shells on the base pad.