When an AP1000 suffers a LOCA event, it will automatically inject water into the reactor through charged vessels. After that, it will depressurize the reactor coolant loop through and automatic depressurization sequence (ADS stages 1-4) and it will use gravity to flow water into the reactor through an inside-containment water tank (IRWST). This will flood the reactor including the lower portion of the containment vessel. At this point, the decay heat from the core will boil the flooded reactor inside containment. Convective heat transfer on the outside of containment will condense steam inside of containment to be reused for the boiling.
Please correct if I have anything misunderstood.
Ok, at this point, the Containment and Reactor can keep itself cool forever without need for pumps, generators, fire trucks, helicopters... you name it.
The question I have is an AP1000 recoverable after this? The lower portion of containment has been flooded with radioactive water. The rest of containment has been filled with radioactive steam. Does an AP1000 owner just seal the doors and file an insurance claim? Or is there a way to clean one up and return it to operations?
Edited for grammar.