Abstract: This paper firstly introduces a comprehensive overview of the development and current situation of the thermoacoustic engine and the pulse tube refrigerator and then focuses on introducing the theory and the experiment,as well as the numerical simulation methods and research results of the thermoacoustic engine and thermoacoustic refrigerator.In particular,the methods of numerical simulation research from the one dimensional to 2D axisymmetric and 3D numerical models for the pulse tube refrigerator are emphatically introduced.Finally,this paper forecasts the development trends of research hotspot,research methods,research direction of the thermoacoustic engine,and makes a brief introduction of three directions of the thermoacoustic engine:utilization of solar energy and afterheat,miniaturization of the thermoacoustic refrigeration system,pulse tube refrigeration driven by thermoacoustics.