The thorium molten salt reactor: Moving on from the MSBR

A re-evaluation of the molten salt breeder reactor concept has revealed problems related to its safety and to the complexity of the reprocessing considered. A reflection is carried out anew in view of finding innovative solutions leading to the thorium molten salt reactor concept. Several main constraints are established and serve as guides to parametric evaluations. These then give an understanding of the influence of important core parameters on the reactor's operation. The aim of this paper is to discuss this vast research domain and to single out the molten salt reactor configurations that deserve further evaluation.