Abstract: To improve the heat dissipation capability of power switchgear busbars, a 2 mm-diameter circular pulsating heat pipe was installed on the surface of phase B busbar, with the filling ratio of pulsating heat pipe, inlet ventilation velocity and busbar load current selected as experimental variables. The central composite design method was adopted to conduct heat dissipation optimization experiments. Based on experimental results, the functional relationship between average busbar surface temperature and influencing factors was established through multiple linear regression analysis. The response surface methodology was then applied to simulate and analyze the interaction effects of various factors, followed by optimization of pulsating heat pipe cooling parameters. Finally, the accuracy of response surface methodology predictions was verified by temperature rise experiments. The results indicate that inlet ventilation velocity, busbar load current and their interaction significantly affect the average busbar surface temperature. The optimal operating conditions are determined as 853 A load current, 1.7 m/s inlet ventilation velocity and 50% filling ratio of pulsating heat pipe, achieving the minimum average busbar surface temperature and optimal heat dissipation performance. All temperature rise experimental data fall within the 95% confidence interval of response surface, confirming the reliability of response surface methodology predictions.