Reactor vessel internals storage area arrangement

This patent describes an improvement in a nuclear reactor power plant which includes a nuclear reactor pressure vessel having an upper internals structure and a lower internals structure which are removed therefrom while performing maintenance procedures. The nuclear reactor pressure vessel being housed within a generally cylindrical concrete containment building having concrete floor and walls. The containment building defining a refueling cavity comprised of a reactor cavity and a fuel transfer canal. The reactor pressure vessel being disposed within the reactor cavity and the upper and lower internals structures are stored within the fuel transfer canal during the maintenance procedures. The improvement comprising an internals storage means integrally formed within the fuel transfer canal, wherein; an upper internals storage area is defined by a plurality of concrete support ledges projecting radially inwardly from and integrally formed with the walls of the fuel transfer canal; a lower internals storage area is defined by a plurality of concrete support columns projecting upward from and integrally formed with the floor of the fuel transfer canal. The support columns being disposed in a second generally circular array and adapted to receive the lower internals thereon