Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. 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 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;  disposing said removed external fitting within said pressure vessel body; and  closing said canister. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. The method of  claim 3 , comprising coating interior and exterior surfaces of said pressure vessel with sealant. claim 3 5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said filling said gap with stabilizer comprises substantially filling said gap with low density cellular concrete. claim 3 6. The method of  claim 3 , comprising sealing said canister with a metalizing spray. claim 3 7. The method of  claim 3 , comprising: claim 3 removing a portion of said pressure vessel which is of low radioactivity; and  attaching said portion to an exterior of said canister. 8. The method of  claim 3 , comprising filling at least a portion of said pressure vessel body with a stabilizer. claim 3 9. The method of  claim 3 , wherein substantially filling said gap with stabilizer comprises completely filling said gap with stabilizer. claim 3 10. 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. 11. The method of  claim 10 , comprising coating interior and exterior surfaces of said pressure vessel body with sealant. claim 10 12. The method of  claim 10 , comprising substantially filling a gap between an interior of said canister and said pressure vessel body with a stabilizer. claim 10 13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein substantially filling said gap with stabilizer comprises completely filling said gap with stabilizer. claim 12 14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein filling said gap with stabilizer comprises substantially filling said gap with low density cellular concrete. claim 12 15. The method of  claim 10 , comprising filling at least a portion of said pressure vessel body with a stabilizer. claim 10 16. The method of  claim 10 , comprising sealing said canister with a metalizing spray. claim 10 17. 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. 18. The method of  claim 17 , comprising coating an interior surface of said pressure vessel with sealant. claim 17 19. The method of  claim 17 , comprising substantially filling a gap between an interior of said container and said pressure vessel with a stabilizer. claim 17 20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said filling said gap with stabilizer comprises substantially filling said gap with low density cellular concrete. claim 19 21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein substantially filling said gap with stabilizer comprises completely filling said gap with stabilizser. claim 19 22. The method of  claim 17 , wherein removing at least a substantial portion of said protruding external fittings comprises removing said external fittings to the extent that any unremoved portions of said fittings protrude no further from said pressure vessel body than an outer perimeter of a head-to-body joint flange on said pressure vessel body. claim 17 23. The method of  claim 17 , comprising filling at least a portion of said pressure vessel body with a stabilizer. claim 17 24. The method of  claim 17 , comprising removing at least a portion of an internals set of said pressure vessel and replacing said removed internals portion with a radiation shield before at relocating at least a portion of said removed external fittings, insulation, and internals set within said interior of said pressure vessel. claim 17 25. The method of  claim 17 , comprising sealing said container with a metalizing spray. claim 17 26. The method of  claim 17 , comprising removing said portion of reactor internals while said reactor pressure vessel is partially filled with liquid. claim 17