AB.RCP-0001 — RCP Abnormality
Purpose
Provides guidance for response to reactor coolant pump abnormal conditions.
Continuous Action Summary (Attachment 1)
Exam — 2020 Q4
AB.RCP-0001 Attachment 2 CAS requires stopping RCPs for motor winding temp >302°F. Common distractors:- Motor bearing temp 170°F — does NOT exceed CAS limit of >175°F
- Motor flange vibration 3 mils — entry condition for AB.RCP-0001 but CAS trip requires >5 mils
- CC-131 closure (thermal barrier valve) alone — CAS requires concurrent loss of BOTH seal injection AND thermal barrier CCW to secure within 2 minutes; loss of thermal barrier CCW alone does not require immediate trip
Exam — 2023 Q27
Trip reactor and stop affected RCP if ANY of the following validated conditions exist:- CCW flow lost to ALL RCPs AND not restored within 5 minutes
- RCP Seal Injection AND Thermal Barrier CCW lost concurrently (secure within 2 minutes)
- Shaft vibration > 20 mils or motor flange vibration > 5 mils
- Motor bearing temperature > 175°F
- Motor winding temperature > 302°F (Modes 1-5)
- Seal water outlet temperature > 190°F
- #1 Seal leakoff < 0.8 gpm AND reverses to ≥ 6.0 gpm
- #1 Seal leakoff < 0.8 gpm with rising pump bearing/seal inlet temps
- #1 Seal leakoff ≥ 6 gpm
Exam — 2023 Q78
If vibration parameters are below Attachment 1 trip criteria (shaft 20 mils, motor flange 5 mils), do NOT immediately trip the RCP. Per Step 3.10, the CRS/SM determines if a controlled Unit shutdown is required to remove the affected RCP from service. Example: shaft vibration at 16 mils and motor flange at 3 mils — both below trip limits, so prepare for controlled shutdown rather than immediate trip.
Exam — 2023 Q86
A #3 seal leak is indicated by STANDPIPE LEVEL-LO alarm with #1 seal leakoff steady at 1.5 gpm (normal, indicating intact #2 seal). Action: make-up to the standpipe per the ARP; power operation may continue. AB.RCP-0001 does not provide specific direction for a #3 seal leak. Trap: the orderly shutdown and stop RCP within 8 hours action applies to a degraded #2 seal, not a #3 seal leak.
Exam — 2022 Q5
Loss of CCW thermal barrier: if 1CC190 closes (common return), ALL RCP thermal barriers lose CCW. RCPs may continue running if charging flow is maintained. Trip RCP within 2 minutes only if BOTH CCW and charging are lost.
Exam — 2022 Q86
Attachment 1: #1 seal leak-off flow >= 6 gpm indicates a #1 seal failure — go to Attachment 2 (Stopping RCPs). Attachment 2 directs: manual reactor trip, stop affected RCP, then 3-5 minutes after stopping close the CV104 valve, then go to EOP-TRIP-1. High seal leak-off indicates #1 seal failure (not #2). An orderly shutdown within 8 hours applies to a degraded #2 seal (leak-off < 0.8 gpm or slowly approaching 6 gpm), NOT a failed #1 seal at >= 6 gpm.
Scenario — 2022 #3
23 RCP motor bearing oil level low. Motor bearing temperatures rising above 175 degF trip criterion and vibrations > 5 mils per AB.RCP-0001. CRS directs reactor trip and stop 23 RCP IAW Attachment 2. This initiates entry into EOP-TRIP-1 where the main turbine then fails to trip.
Exam — 2019 Q55
CC131 thermal barrier isolation and RCP trip requirement: loss of thermal barrier CCW alone (with seal injection still normal) does NOT require securing ALL RCPs within 2 minutes. The 2-minute CAS action applies only when BOTH seal injection AND thermal barrier CCW are lost concurrently. CC131 auto-closure setpoint: 175 gpm hi flow. Trap: candidates may confuse CC131 closure (thermal barrier loss only) with loss of ALL seal cooling, but seal injection via CVCS is a separate and independent cooling path.
Exam — 2020 Q28
RCP #2 seal failure diagnostics: standpipe level HIGH alarm combined with #1 seal leak-off flow LOWERED = #2 seal failure. Standpipe level LOW alarm = #3 seal problem. Do not confuse standpipe high vs low alarm implications.
Scenario — 2020 #4
23 RCP shaft vibration exceeds 20 mils (OHA D-36 RCP VIB HI, 2RP3 monitor). CRS enters AB.RCP-0001, implements CAS action per Attachment 2 to stop 23 RCP due to exceeding shaft vibration limits. Trip reactor, confirm trip, stop 23 RCP. Consequence: loss of 23 RCP removes normal PZR spray capability (spray lines fed from Loops 1 and 3 cold legs — requires 21 or 23 RCP running).
Scenario — 2019 #1
22 RCP oil level low (Event 5). OHA D-13 for 22 RCP BRG OIL LVL LO. PO reports 22 RCP Upper Radial Bearing Oil Level Low — motor bearing temperatures rising to or exceed 175 F. CRS enters AB.RCP-0001 and implements Attachment 2 for stopping 22 RCP. Required action: trip the reactor, confirm the reactor trip, THEN stop 22 RCP.
Exam — 2018 Q51
AB.RCP-0001 CAS: motor flange vibration > 5 mils requires stopping the RCP (Attachment 2). After reactor trip from 75% power with one RCP stopped and RTB A closed but RTB B open, LCO 3.4.1.2 IS met because with the rod control system de-energized (RTB B open, bypass breakers not racked in), only two RCS loops are required to be OPERABLE. Trap: LCO 3.4.1.2 requires ALL loops OPERABLE only when rod control is ENERGIZED. Candidates confuse the energized vs de-energized requirements.
Exam — 2018 Q79
Attachment 2 — concurrent loss of seal injection AND thermal barrier CCW (2CC131 closes AND CV pumps unavailable): with Seal Leakoff < 6 gpm, the crew is NOT required to close 21-24CV104s (SEAL LEAKOFF) within 3-5 minutes after stopping RCPs (Step 1.4). At Attachment 2 Step 5.0, seal cooling method depends on RCP Seal Inlet Temperatures: if ALL temps are < 225 °F, perform Attachment 4 (Re-establishing RCP Seal Cooling); if NOT ALL temps are < 225 °F, perform S2.OP-AB.RC-0004 (Natural Circulation) for seal cooling. Trap: 22 RCP at 227 °F exceeds the 225 °F threshold, so not ALL are less than 225 °F. The procedure routes to Natural Circulation, not Attachment 4.
Scenario — 2018 #1
22 RCP #1 seal degradation: seal leakoff flow rises to ~5.2 gpm (stable). CRS enters AB.RCP-0001, uses P-250 to check 22 RCP conditions. CCW supply normal, winding temps normal, seal injection >6 gpm. CRS determines orderly shutdown required within 8 hours (Step 3.6). Seal then fails — leakoff exceeds 6 gpm → Att 1 CAS and Att 2 (Stopping RCPs). CRS briefs trip actions, assigns 22CV104 closure within 3-5 minutes of stopping 22 RCP. Trip reactor, stop 22 RCP, close 22CV104 (CT#1).
Connections
- Related systems: RCPs, CCW, CVCS
- Related EOPs: EOP-TRIP-1 — Reactor Trip or Safety Injection
- Related procedures: S2.OP-AR.ZZ-0011 — Alarm Response (2CC1), AB.RC-0004 — Natural Circulation
- Related exam questions: 2018 Q51, 2018 Q79, 2019 Q55, 2020 Q4, 2020 Q28, 2022 Q5, 2022 Q86, 2023 Q27, 2023 Q78, 2023 Q86
- Related scenarios: 2018 Scenario 1, 2019 Scenario 1 — Power Ascension / LOCA Outside Containment, 2022 Scenario 3 — Power Ascension / Loss of Heat Sink, 2020 Scenario 4 — SGTR / PORV Failure
- Related exam: 2018 NRC Written Exam, 2018 NRC Operating Exam, 2019 NRC Operating Exam, 2022 NRC Written Exam, 2023 NRC Written Exam, 2022 NRC Operating Exam, 2020 NRC Written Exam, 2020 NRC Operating Exam