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Description of the Safety Concern
If a loss-of-coolant accident occurred, piping thermal insulation and other materials in the vicinity of the rupture will be dislodged. A fraction of this dislodged insulation and other materials, such as paint chips and concrete dust, will be transported to the containment floor by the steam/water flows from the rupture and the containment sprays. Some of this debris may be transported to and accumulate on the containment sump screens of the ECCS.
The purpose of the debris screen around containment sumps is to minimize the amount of debris entering the ECCS suction lines. Debris can block restrictions (i.e., openings) or damage components in the systems served by the ECCS pumps. However, excessive head loss, caused by debris accumulation on containment sump screens, can prevent or impede the flow of water into the core or containment (via containment spray). The NRC is currently implementing its plan to have all pressurized water reactor licensees perform an evaluation of the potential for excessive head loss across the containment sump screen because of the accumulation of debris on the containment sump screen.
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