Containment and transportation of decommissioned nuclear reactor pressure vessels and the like

A method of containing a nuclear reactor pressure vessel for transportation and storage, the method comprising:

• removing a portion of said pressure vessel which is of low radioactivity;
• removing at least one external fitting from said nuclear pressure vessel to an extent that a non-removed portion of said fitting is substantially flush with an external surface of said pressure vessel;
• disposing a body of said pressure vessel within a canister;
• substantially filling a gap between an interior of said canister and said pressure vessel with a stabilizer;
• closing said canister;
• and
• attaching said portion which is of low radioactivity to an exterior of said canister.

A method of containing a nuclear reactor pressure vessel for transportation and storage, the method comprising:

• removing at least one external fitting from a nuclear reactor pressure vessel;
• disposing a body of said pressure vessel within a canister;
• substantially filling a gap between an interior of said canister and said pressure vessel with a stabilizer;
• disposing said removed external fitting within said pressure vessel body;
• and
• closing said canister.

A method of containing a nuclear reactor pressure vessel for transportation and storage, the method comprising:

• removing from a nuclear reactor pressure vessel a portion of said pressure vessel which is of low radioactivity;
• disposing a body of said pressure vessel within a canister;
• and
• attaching said removed portion to an exterior of said canister.

A method of containing a nuclear reactor pressure vessel for transportation and storage, the method comprising:

• removing a head, at least a substantial portion of all protruding external fittings, and at least a substantial portion of external insulation from a nuclear reactor pressure vessel;
• removing a portion of reactor internals from an interior of said pressure vessel;
• relocating at least some of said removed external fittings, insulation, and internals within said interior of said pressure vessel;
• sealing penetrations in said pressure vessel;
• disposing a body of said pressure vessel within a container;
• closing said container;
• sealing said container;
• and
• attaching said head to an exterior of said container.