Method of constructing a nuclear reactor having reactor core and control elements supported by reactor vessel head

A method of constructing a nuclear reactor comprising:

• fabricating, in a manufacturing facility, a reactor vessel, the reactor vessel configured to hold a pool of reactor coolant and having an open upper end;
• fabricating, in the manufacturing facility, a reactor vessel head configured to couple to the upper end of the reactor vessel to seal the upper end of the reactor vessel and support the weight of the reactor vessel;
• fabricating, in the manufacturing facility, a cartridge core barrel configured to mount to an underside of the reactor vessel head and hang therefrom;
• fabricating, in the manufacturing facility, a reactor core configured to mount within the cartridge core barrel;
• fabricating, in the manufacturing facility, a control element drive system, the control element drive system configured to be supported by the reactor vessel head;
• assembling, in the manufacturing facility, the control element drive system and the reactor core within the cartridge core barrel to create a core module;
• and
• shipping the core module, the reactor vessel, and the reactor vessel head as separate components, to a construction site.