Methods of energy generation from a thorium molten salt system

A method of generating power using a Thorium-containing molten salt fuel is disclosed. One example includes the steps of providing a vessel containing a molten salt fuel, generating a proton beam externally to the vessel, where the externally generated proton beam is of an energy level sufficient to interact with material within a fuel rod in the vessel to produce (p, n) reactions resulting in the generation of neutrons at a first energy level. Neutrons generated within the vessel through the (p, n) reactions are utilized to produce a fission reaction which increases the heat content of the molten salt within the vessel. In the example, a heat exchanger is used to extract heat from the molten salt within the vessel and power is generated from the extracted heat.