SALEM
SALEM STUDY SYSTEM
EOPs > EOP-LOCA-3 — Transfer to Cold Leg Recirculation

EOP-LOCA-3 — Transfer to Cold Leg Recirculation

⚠️ DRAFT

EOP-LOCA-3 — Transfer to Cold Leg Recirculation

Purpose

Provides direction for transferring ECCS suction from the RWST to the containment sump when RWST level reaches the Lo Level alarm setpoint. Entered from EOP-LOCA-1 when RWST Lo Level is reached during a LOCA.

Key Actions / Information

Scenario — 2023 #1
Transfer to cold leg recirculation during LBLOCA. Time-critical operator actions from RWST Lo Level alarm:
- Close 2SJ69 within 3.7 minutes
- Stop 22 CS pump within 5.5 minutes
- ECCS pumps verified in recirculation within 11.2 minutes
Key steps: depress SUMP AUTO ARMED PB for 21 and 22 SJ44s, remove lockouts from 2SJ67/68/69, verify SJ44s open, close 2SJ67/68, close 2RH1/2RH2, open 21 and 22 SJ45s. Failure to transfer before RWST Lo-Lo (1.2 feet) results in loss of all pumped safety injection and containment spray.
Exam — 2020 Q87
During cold leg recirculation transfer: after sump valves open and RWST common suction (SJ69) closes, oscillating RHR pump amps, flows, and discharge pressures indicate cavitation from containment sump blockage. The CRS transitions to EOP-APPX-7 (Containment Sump Blockage), NOT EOP-LOCA-5. LOCA-5 is for mechanical/electrical component failures causing loss of recirculation — sump blockage causing pump cavitation is APPX-7.
JPM — 2020 SRO-A5
ECCS aligned for cold leg recirculation at the time of emergency classification escalation. Large Break LOCA with all three fission product barriers lost: 21SJ44 (Containment Sump Suction Valve) failed to close when crew attempted to isolate RHR sump overflow — creating an unisolable leak path outside containment. This is the basis for the Containment Barrier loss (CB2.L/CB3.L) in the General Emergency classification.
Exam — 2019 Q52
After resetting ALL SECs in EOP-LOCA-3, the crew IS required to MANUALLY reset the 230V control centers (even though 20 minutes after SEC actuation the lockout is automatically removed). If a subsequent blackout occurs on a 4KV vital bus with SI previously reset, ECCS pumps and safeguards equipment will NOT automatically start — they must be manually operated because different equipment is started on a SEC blackout loading than on a safeguards loading. Trap: A LBLOCA is in progress, so candidates may assume ECCS pumps will auto-start — but with SI/SECs reset, the SEC loads based on blackout loading, NOT safeguards loading.
Exam — 2019 Q88
CAS transition for sump blockage: when ECCS pumps are aligned to sump and erratic flow/pressure on BOTH trains indicates cavitation → transition to EOP-APPX-7 (CONTAINMENT SUMP BLOCKAGE). EOP-LOCA-5 is only for loss of recirculation NOT related to sump blockage. During recirculation, RHR pump discharge provides the D/P to drive Containment Spray (CS pumps take suction from the outlet of the RHR HXs, not from SI pump discharge).
Exam — 2018 Q4
ECCS realignment for cold leg recirculation is required as soon as the RWST Level LO alarm is FIRST validated (IAW EOP-LOCA-1). 21SJ44 and 22SJ44 (Containment Sump Suction Valves) each serve a single RHR pump — with 21SJ44 closed, only 22 RHR pump can draw suction from the containment sump.
Scenario — 2018 #2
Cold leg recirculation transfer after LBLOCA. CT#2 (CT-36) — time-critical: (1) Open 21SJ44 and 22SJ44, depress sump auto arm pushbuttons when containment sump >62% lights lit. (2) Remove lockouts for 2SJ67, 2SJ68, 2SJ69. (3) Close 2SJ69 within ~3.7 min of RWST lo alarm. (4) Stop 22 CS pump within ~5.5 min. (5) Close 21 and 22RH19s. Select flow path for all 4KV vital buses energized → Step 11. Close 2SJ67 and 2SJ68. Open 22SJ45, then 21SJ45. Close 2SJ30, 2SJ1, 2SJ2. Place 21RH29 and 22RH29 in manual and ensure closed (Step 15) within ~11.2 min. PO removes lockout from 2SJ30.

Connections