Global thermal performance modeling of Pulsating Heat Pipes (PHPs) requires local, spatio-temporally coupled, flow and heat transfer information during the characteristic, self-sustained thermally driven oscillating Taylor bubble flow, under different operating conditions. Local hydrodynamic characteristics such as velocities, lengths, shapes and profiles of bubbles and slugs, their dynamic contact angles, thickness of the liquid film that surrounds the bubbles, enhanced mixing/ flow circulation within the liquid slugs and net pressure drop along the flow, etc., are needed to predict local heat transfer and thus, the global thermal performance. In this paper, we systematically review the experimental, theoretical/analytical, and modeling methodologies to predict these hydrodynamic properties in unidirectional two-phase Taylor bubble flows, in the context of Pulsating Heat Pipes. Indeed, there is little literature available for oscillating Taylor bubbles flows. In view of the state-of-the-art, we therefore recommend some directions and perspectives for furthering research on understanding and modeling PHPs.
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