https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten_salt_reactor
This isn't just some theory work in academic papers. It isn't even "new", lots of research dating back to the 1960s.
This isn't just some theory work in academic papers. It isn't even "new", lots of research dating back to the 1960s.
The design from the 1960s would require online reprocessing of the salt. This is an immediate showstopper for utilities. No utility wants to operate a highly radioactive reprocessing plant at each of their reactors, especially when that complex equipment could not be maintained with direct human contact.
The MSR design from the 1960s used FLiBe. The total world annual production of beryllium is maybe 220 tonnes; the estimated resource, 100,000 tonnes. The design could not be scaled to supply world energy demand.