Since their invention by Akachi in 1990s, pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) have attracted widespread interest and application in practice, e.g., grinding, chip cooling, the thermal management of batteries, etc., owing to their notable efficiency in heat transfer and their simplicity and flexibility in structure. Key factors influencing the heat transfer efficacy of pulsating heat pipes are mainly attributed to the thermophysical properties of the working fluid, the structural parameters, and the operating conditions. Research on pulsating heat pipes is conducted through theoretical investigations, numerical simulations, and visual experiments. In this paper, the research on PHPs in recent decades is reviewed with the consideration of the heat transfer performance mechanism and application of pulsating heat pipes, especially research under operation conditions such as with “status with motion” and with “inconsistent heat flux”.
