The low pressure emergency core cooling systems consist of two separate and independent systems, the core spray system and the low pressure coolant injection (LPCI) mode of the residual heat removal system. The core spray system consists of two separate and independent pumping loops, each capable of pumping water from the suppression pool into the reactor vessel. Core cooling is accomplished by spraying water on top of the fuel assemblies.
The low pressure coolant injection mode of the residual heat removal system provides makeup water to the reactor vessel for core cooling under loss of coolant accident conditions. The residual heat removal system is a multipurpose system with several operational modes, each utilizing the same major pieces of equipment. The low pressure coolant injection mode is the dominant mode and normal valve lineup configuration of the residual heat removal system. The low pressure coolant injection mode operates automatically to restore and, if necessary, maintain the reactor vessel coolant inventory to preclude fuel cladding temperatures in excess of 2200EF. During low pressure coolant injection operation, the residual heat removal pumps take water from the suppression pool and discharge to the reactor vessel.
