The IHPC&S
Heat pipes and thermosyphons are highly efficient heat transfer devices that operate based on two-phase fluid cycles. These devices typically consist of a sealed, evacuated tube containing a controlled amount of working fluid. In heat pipes, fluid movement is driven by capillary forces generated by an internal wick, while in thermosyphons, gravity performs this function. Despite variations in geometry and configuration, both devices share a fundamental structure comprising two main regions: the evaporator and the condenser, with a third thermally insulated (adiabatic) region sometimes present between them.
These technologies are widely used in applications requiring efficient heat transfer and/or uniform temperature distribution, providing precise thermal management across a broad range of equipment sizes, from very small to very large systems. They have become essential solutions for addressing heat transfer and thermal control challenges worldwide.
The origins of thermosyphons date back to the mid-1800s, with patents registered by A. M. Perkins and J. Perkins. In 1944, R. Gaugler patented a heat transfer device consisting of a sealed tube containing an internal porous medium to facilitate fluid circulation from the condenser to the evaporator. However, it was Grover et al. (1964) who first introduced the term “heat pipes.”
Recognizing the importance of advancements in this field, the Committee on International Heat Pipe Conferences and Symposia, composed of 16 leading researchers worldwide, organizes meetings approximately every 2.5 years to discuss recent developments in heat pipe technology and its applications. The first International Heat Pipe Conference (IHPC) was held in Germany in 1973, followed by the first International Heat Pipe Symposium (IHPS) in Japan in 1985. In 2016, these events merged into the International Heat Pipe Conference & Symposium (IHPC&S), which continues to be organized as a unified event.
The primary objective of IHPC&S is to foster a collaborative environment for technical discussions and cooperative research among nations, equipping the scientific community to address modern challenges—particularly those related to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. You are warmly invited to join us at the next IHPC&S.

Future events
23th IHPC and 17th IHPS
Gdansk, Poland in 2026
History of the Joint International Heat Pipe Conference (IHPC) and International Heat Pipe Symposium (IHPS)
22th IHPC and 16th IHPS | Nakhom Pathon, Thailand | 2024 |
21th IHPC and 15th IHPS | Melbourne, Australia | 2023 |
20th IHPC and 14th IHPS | Gelendzhik, Russia | 2021 |
19th IHPC and 13th IHPS | Pisa, Italy | 2018 |
18th IHPC and 12th IHPS | Jeju, South Korea | 2016 |
History of the International Heat Pipe Conference (IHPC)
17th IHPC | Kanpur, India | 2013 |
16th IHPC | Lyon, France | 2012 |
15th IHPC | Clemson, United States of America | 2010 |
14th IHPC | Florianopolis, Brazil | 2007 |
13th IHPC | Shangai, China | 2004 |
12th IHPC | Moscow, Russia | 2002 |
11th IHPC | Tokyo, Japan | 1999 |
10th IHPC | Stuttgart, Germany | 1997 |
9th IHPC | Albuquerque, United States of America | 1995 |
8th IHPC | Beijing, China | 1992 |
7th IHPC | Minsk, Belarus | 1990 |
6th IHPC | Grenoble, France | 1987 |
5th IHPC | Tsukuba, Japan | 1984 |
4th IHPC | London, United Kingdom | 1981 |
3rd IHPC | Palo Alto, United States of America | 1978 |
2nd IHPC | Bologna, Italy | 1976 |
1st IHPC | Stuttgart, Germany | 1973 |
History of the International Heat Pipe Symposium (IHPS)
11th IHPS | Beijing, China | 2013 |
10th IHPS | Taipei, Taiwan | 2011 |
9th IHPS | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2008 |
8th IHPS | Kumamoto, Japan | 2006 |
7th IHPS | Jeju, South Korea | 2003 |
6th IHPS | Chiangmai, Thailand | 2000 |
5th IHPS | Melbourne, Australia | 1996 |
4th IHPS | Tsukuba, Japan | 1994 |
3rd IHPS | Tsukuba, Japan | 1988 |
2nd IHPS | Osaka, Japan | 1987 |
1st IHPS | Tokyo, Japan | 1985 |