A heat pipe based passive residual heat removal system for a spent fuel pool (3). Partitions (6) are arranged around an inside of the spent fuel pool. Evaporation-end heat pipes (4) are arranged between the outside of the partitions and an inner wail of the pool. The evaporation-end heat pipes have outlets that extend beyond the pool and are connected to an Inlet of an ascending pipe (10), and have inlets connected to an outlet of a descending pipe (5). Condensation-end heat pipes (7) have inlets connected to an outlet of the ascending pipe, and have outlets connected to an inlet of the descending pipe. The heat pipes cool the spent fuel pool. A heat exchange by phase change of working medium in the heat pipe leads to heat exchange of low temperature difference and high efficiency, relying on density difference for natural circulation drive.