Pneumatic conveying of spherical fuel element in the pipeline is an important research area in the fuel handling and storage system of pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTRs). As an advanced nuclear energy technology, the fuel handling and storage system of HTRs involve multiple complex processes, with pneumatic transport playing an indispensable role in ensuring efficient and reliable operations. Furthermore, the pneumatic transport of spherical bodies within pipes demonstrates broad application prospects in various industrial fields. This study integrates research findings with industrial practices to provide theoretical guidance for the development of advanced technologies in spherical element transportation. This paper primarily provides a comprehensive review of three aspects: pneumatic conveying of HTR fuel elements, flow around spherical bodies within pipes, and research methods of flow around spherical bodies. The study of flow around spheres focuses on the fluid dynamic characteristics surrounding the sphere, including velocity distribution, pressure distribution, and possible vortex formation. Extensive research has been conducted on the flow field structure around a sphere through experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical analyses, focusing on the transcritical behavior of the flow around a sphere. Pneumatic conveying of spheres in pipes is not only a complex technical topic, but also an in-depth challenge that requires an in-depth understanding of fluid dynamics, structural mechanics and other areas of knowledge. This paper reviews the existing research and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of sphere pneumatic conveying in pipe. It also identifies some potential directions for future research on the transport of spherical elements in pipes for HTR fuel elements conveying and other industrial applications, which could be valuable for further exploration in this field.