FR2845347A1 - Installing nuclear reactor on bed of water course, e.g. for power generation, involves using submersible barge to transport reactor to site before sinking - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure involves jointly constructing a nuclear reactor (1) on a barge (10) of large dimensions, launching them together and using the barge to transport the reactor to its final site before sinking it on the barge to rest on the bed (8) of a water course or stretch of water. Preferred Features: The barge is sunk with the aid of ballast (14) which is also used to fix it in position, e.g. on a built-up foundation layer (7). The barge is made of concrete with a main section to contain the reactor and other sections to receive the ballast used to submerge and fix it in position and to house auxiliary equipment used for energy conversion.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INSTALLING A NUCLEAR REACTOR IN WATER

DESCRIPTION

  Field of the Invention The invention relates to reactors

  nuclear to be implanted in water, that is to say in a stream or body of water.

  It also relates to floating barges equipped

  to transport such reactors.

  PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM POSED Nuclear reactors have for

  main purpose of producing electricity, secondary heat or possibly fresh water by desalination, and more generally thermal energy usable for all purposes.

  On the other hand, it is known to use floating barges to transport installations

  nuclear, such as nuclear reactors.

  The concepts and / or embodiments of the known concepts have two common points which are as follows. First, the barge is floating and anchored or moored at the nuclear reactor production site. In addition, it is constructed of metal according to conventional techniques of shipbuilding. In this case, it is generally coated with

anticorrosive paint.

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These provisions present

  disadvantages which are as follows.

  First, the barge, constructed of metal, requires significant maintenance, since the hull is subject to marine corrosion, which is increased by the fact that the barge is immobile and placed in water which is not naturally heated by the discharges of the nuclear installation. In addition, the floating barge, although it is anchored or moored on the site of implantation, is directly subjected to the movements of the sea or the watercourse in which it floats. This complicates the measures to be taken to resist events of the flush or tidal or tsunami type. The object of the invention is to avoid these drawbacks, while retaining the primary advantage of the characters transportable by floating dedicated to a nuclear installation. Indeed, this authorizes construction in an industrial site 20 dedicated to such manufacturing. In addition, this method of construction has the advantage of allowing industrialization of the construction of nuclear reactors and of limiting work on the site, which

are often very expensive.

  Summary of the invention To this end, a first main object of the invention is a method of installing a nuclear reactor on the bottom of a watercourse or a body of water, comprising the following steps

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  - joint construction of the nuclear reactor and the barge on which it is installed; - launching of the entire barge and the nuclear reactor; and

  - floating transport of the whole to the site.

  According to the invention, the installation of the whole of the barge and the reactor on the site is done by immersion of the barge, so that it rests on the bottom of the watercourse or the 'body of water. The immersion of the barge is very

  advantageously by filling ballasts provided thereon.

Blocking of the complete assembly

  advantageously the installation on the site.

  Preferably, an embankment is formed on the bottom of the watercourse or of the body of water at the place where the barge must be submerged so that it rests on

the embankment.

  The construction of the whole is advantageously completed by the construction of the installation of

energy conversion on the barge.

  The second main object of the invention

  is a system for installing a nuclear reactor in a watercourse or a body of water, mainly comprising a large barge and having a main location for the nuclear reactor.

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  According to the invention, it comprises means of immersion so as to be able to sink onto

  the bottom of the watercourse or body of water.

  Preferably, the immersion means consist of ballasts. In case we want the installation

  of energy conversion relative to the nuclear reactor is adjacent to the latter, the barge has secondary locations to accommodate the 10 elements of the energy conversion installation.

  To avoid corrosion of the barge, it is expected that it will be made of concrete. This also helps to protect the radioactivity emitted by the nuclear reactor. 15 List of figures The invention and its different

  technical characteristics will be better understood on reading the following description of an embodiment

  of the invention. It is accompanied by a few figures representing respectively: FIG. 1, in cross section, the system according to the invention during its construction; - Figure 2, the same system as Figure 1, but during the floating phase; - Figure 3, in longitudinal section, the system according to the invention during the floating phase;

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  - Figure 4, in longitudinal section, the system of the invention deposited on the bottom of the river or body of water; and - Figure 5, in cross section, the

  same system according to the invention installed on the bottom of the watercourse or the body of water.

  Detailed description of a realization of

  the invention FIG. 1 shows, in section, a naval basin of traditional construction 5, in which is shown the assembly consisting of a barge 10 of large dimensions and having in its center a main housing 12 in which is positioned a nuclear reactor 1. This main housing 12 is placed on the bottom 15 of the barge 10, surrounded by 20 ballasts 14 which are empty. The whole of the barge 10 is surmounted by an upper space Il having between

  others a handling system 13.

  FIG. 2 shows the same assembly of the barge 10 containing the nuclear reactor 1, but in a floating state in a watercourse or a body of water 6. It is obvious that the assembly has a density less than that of water. In other words, the spaces inside the barge

  allow the flotation of the whole.

  Unlike most existing barges, this one is made of concrete. This

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  allows, among other things, to avoid corrosion and to constitute a traditional nuclear radiation protection enclosure around the nuclear reactor 1. FIG. 3 shows, in longitudinal section, the assembly in floating state. This figure shows a possible realization of the barge with the different rooms it contains. There is the main room 12 in which the nuclear reactor 10 is located 1, surmounted by the upper room 11. Premises adjoining this main room 12 are provided, in particular a secondary room 16 in which there are energy conversion installations. 17, for example at least one steam generator. In addition, 15 the barge 10 comprises auxiliary premises 18 placed on either side of the main 12 and auxiliary 16 premises allowing the installation of the operating control elements and of the personnel operating on

the site.

  Figure 4 shows the entire barge and reactor 1 installed on the site where it is planned to place the nuclear installation. It can be seen that the bottom 15 of the barge 10 rests on an embankment 7 formed artificially on the bottom of the bed 8 of the river or of the body of water 6. The embankment 7 allows the site of implantation to be able be ready to receive the barge 10 to be submerged and install it horizontally. So that it can descend and come to rest on the embankment 7, the ballasts 14 of the barge 10 have been filled, partially or entirely, so that

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  the barge darkens gently to land on the embankment 7. Fixing systems can be provided to maintain the installation on the embankment 7, in the event that strong currents or tides disturb the stability of the barge 10, thus state of immersion. This blocking of the assembly can be carried out by overfilling the ballasts 15. It is very advantageous to provide joining means, such as a pontoon 9, to allow access from the ground 10 not submerged to the installation constituted by barge 10 equipped with nuclear reactor 1 and its auxiliary equipment. Arrangements can be made to restore the barge to a state of buoyancy, with the aim of relocating it after a period of operation on the site, and of installing it in another place. This also facilitates the dismantling of the installation. In order to allow the future lifting of the barge 10, the upper surface of the embankment 7 is provided in concrete, 20 in order to avoid possible suction effects, during the

lifting the barge 10.

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Claims (10)

  1. Method for installing a nuclear reactor (1) on the bottom (8) of a watercourse or a body of water (6), comprising the following successive stages - joint construction of the reactor nuclear (1) on a large barge (10); - launching of the entire barge (10) supporting the nuclear reactor (1); and - floating transport of the barge (10) on the site, characterized in that it comprises, after the transport by floating, a step of placing the whole of the barge (10) and the nuclear reactor ( 1) by immersion of the barge (10), so that it rests on the bottom (8) of the watercourse or the body of water (6).   2. Installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the immersion of the barge (10) is done by filling ballasts (14) of the barge (10).   3. Installation method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one proceeds to a blocking of the barge (10), once it is installed on the sites.   4. Installation method according to claim 3 dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the blocking of the barge (10) is B 14157 JB   made by overfilling the ballasts (14) of the barge (10).   5. Installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an operation for forming an embankment (7) on the bottom (8) of the watercourse or of the body of water ( 6), right side up of the site.   6. Installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that a step of 10 joint construction of the nuclear reactor (1) of the barge (10) is completed by the construction of an energy conversion installation (17 ) on the barge (10). 7. Installation system of a nuclear reactor (1) on the bottom (8) of a watercourse or a body of water (6) comprising a barge (10) of large dimensions comprising it -same: - a main location (12) in which the nuclear reactor 20 (10) is placed; and   - means for immersing the barge (10) so that it sinks on the bottom (8) of the watercourse or the body of water (6).   8. Installation system according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for immersing the barge (10) consist of   ballasts (14) installed on the barge (10).   9. Installation system according to claim 7, characterized in that the barge (10) comprises secondary locations (16) and B 14157 JB   auxiliaries (18) for the elements of a joint energy conversion installation to the nuclear reactor (1) 10. Installation system according to claim 5, characterized in that the barge (10) is concrete. B 14157 JB