ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
May 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2023)
Matt Rasmussen is TVA’s Senior Vice President, Engineering and Operations Support. Matt reports to Tim Rausch, Chief Nuclear Officer.
Rasmussen has 20 years of experience in engineering, maintenance, work control training, and operations management at both boiling water reactor facilities (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) facilities.
Matt started his career at Browns Ferry in 2002 as a Maintenance Engineer. He served in multiple positions before being promoted to the Shift Manager role in 2009. In 2010, Matt advanced to the Operations Superintendent position and later spent 2 years as the Director of Work Management at the station where he was part of the senior management team that recovered the station from Column 4 and INPO Policy Note 14. Matt transitioned to Sequoyah Nuclear Plant where he led the Maintenance organization prior to being promoted to the Plant Manager and then Site Vice President in 2019.
Matt returned to Browns Ferry as the Site Vice President in October 2020 and most recently led the station through a WANO evaluation resulting in an Exemplary rating – the highest rating awarded in our industry. He is passionate about community engagement and giving back to the communities around our nuclear stations. Matt moved to the Nuclear Fleet Center as the Vice President, Engineering and Operations Support August 2022.
Rasmussen entered into the license class and obtained his Senior Reactor Operator License. He is a graduate of TVA’s Advanced Leadership Program and INPO’s Senior Nuclear Plant Management Program and Senior Nuclear Executive Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University in Alabama.
Last modified April 3, 2023, 3:52pm EDT
