Thorium Breeding Now?

When an atom fissions most (160-180 MeV?) of the approx. 200 MeV is carried as kinetic energy by the fission fragments. Since this usually happens in a solid matrix, the travel distance is on the order of microns, over which distance the kinetic energy of the fragments is converted into heat.

However if the fission reaction were to occur in a salt dissolved in heavy water, then the kinetic energy of the fission fragments can knock a neutron off a deuterium nucleus.

If this process were 100% efficient, then roughly 80-90 new neutrons could be produced from each fission reaction, assuming fission fragment energy of roughly 160-180 MeV, and energy of just over 2 MeV to knock a neutron off the D.

Of course it isn't going to be anywhere near 100% efficient, because most of the energy will be lost in ionizing water molecules. However if even 1 extra neutron were made available in this way, it would do wonders for the overall neutron economy of the reactor, perhaps even making a self-sustaining Thorium breeder immediately possible?

Furthermore, given that the fission fragments are themselves usually neutron rich, collision with a D nucleus might also knock a neutron free from the fission fragment itself, with the possible added benefit that the fission fragment may become stable rather than radioactive.

Another possibility is that initial fusion of a D with an energetic fission fragment may result in that fission fragment itself fissioning, adding even more energy to the system.

Note that while heavy water is considered expensive, that cost is a minute fraction of the value of the energy it is capable of generating when involved in a nuclear reaction.