Following　several　accidents,　designers　have　paid　greater　attention　to　nuclear　power　plant　safety.　The　passive　containment　cooling　system　(PCCS)　was　first　used　in　third-generation　innovative　type　nuclear　power　plants　to　improve　safety.　In　this　paper,　the　basics　of　the　PCCS　and　its　tube　external　condensation　heat　transfer　characteristic　are　reviewed.　The　condensation　heat　transfer　characteristic　exerts　effects　on　two　categories:　the　operating　and　structure　parameters.　Some　empirical　correlations　are　carefully　summarized　to　broaden　the　heat　transfer　calculation　methods.　Research　on　experiments　and　empirical　correlations　revealed　that　both　operating　and　structure　parameters　play　an　important　role　in　the　tube　external　condensation　heat　transfer　characteristic　of　the　PCCS.　Moreover,　experimental　and　numerical　modeling　that　highlight　investigations　of　the　tube　bundle,　curved　tube　and　under　ocean　condition　heat　transfer　characteristic　should　be　explored　in　future　studies.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd