Patent Number: 043550010
Section: summary

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates mainly to a reactor unit and to an installation of the type which forms a nuclear boiler, for example, and uses such a reactor unit. The invention also relates to a method of fitting up such an installation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Up till now, the various components which constitute a nuclear boiler have been manufactured in situ, i.e. at the chosen operation site. However, this has very numerous disadvantages. Indeed, when an installation is to be set up at a remote site or in a developing country, problems arise which relate to ground, labour, etc. and do not facilitate such manufacture or even make it impossible. One of the main aims of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a complete prefabricated nuclear installation which can be transported to the operation site. In this connection, it must be stated that there are at present transport means such as barges, for example, which enable a complete prefabricated nuclear installation such as a boiler to be transported. However, the conditions of access to the boiler installation site are often difficult and further, the total weight and bulk of such a boiler are considerable and make it difficult to prefabricate, handle and transport it in a single piece. Therefore, the invention also aims to remedy the above drawbacks by providing in particular a nuclear installation constituted by prefabricated modular components which are separated and can be fitted together. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, firstly, the invention provides a reactor unit of the type which includes a nuclear reactor installed on a support, wherein said reactor unit constitutes a module which can be shifted and/or transported and said support is constituted by a stand which also ensures stability of the reactor during operation. It should also be noted that means for shifting are associated with the above-mentioned stand. The invention also provides a nuclear installation which includes a reactor unit which has the above-mentioned characteristics, said installation constituting a complete nuclear boiler. According to another feature of the invention, said complete nuclear boiler itself constitutes a transportable module. According to yet another feature of the invention, the above-mentioned nuclear boiler is constituted by a plurality of modular components which can be fitted together. According to yet another feature of the invention, the above-mentioned nuclear boiler consists of at least two modular components constituted by the above-mentioned reactor unit and a container unit which is designed to accomodate it and can be closed by a detachable closing component. The invention further relates to a method of fitting up an installation such as defined hereinabove wherein the installation is in a prefabricated modular form and its modular components are previously checked and tested at the works before being transported to the operation site and assembled in situ. It will therefore be understood that a nuclear boiler according to the invention can be divided into several components which can be transported separately and be assembled subsequently at the chosen operation site. Further, in the method according to the invention the modules are assembled by successive insertion of the various modules in situ or, even, at the works. Further, in the method according to the invention, the modules are assembled and loaded onto transport means and unloaded therefrom by horizontal handling methods. Other features and advantages of the invention become more apparent from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings given only by way of example.