An　increase　in　temperature　dramatically　decreases　the　performance　of　photovoltaic　(PV)　panel.　Hence,　a　micro　heat　pipe　array　(MHPA)　technology　is　developed　to　regulate　the　working　temperature　by　retrofitting　the　PV　panel　into　the　PV-thermal　(MHPA-PV/T)　collector.　A　mathematical　model　of　the　MHPA-PV/T　collector　was　developed　based　on　the　heat　transfer　process.　The　accuracy　of　the　model　was　verified　by　comparison　with　the　experimental　data.　The　performance　of　the　collector　was　studied　and　analyzed　through　a　series　of　experiment　and　simulation.　Results　showed　that　the　thermal　efficiency　of　the　collector　is　significantly　affected　by　seasonal　temperature,　reaching　up　to　40%　in　summer　and　down　to　less　than　20%　in　winter.　When　the　initial　temperature　in　the　water　tank　was　equal　to　the　average　ambient　temperature,　the　thermal　efficiency　was　approximately　30%.　However,　the　electrical　efficiency　was　relatively　stable,　at　approximately　13%　compared　with　thermal　efficiency.　The　total　efficiency　of　the　MHPA-PV/T　collector　for　the　entire　year　fluctuated　between　30%　and　50%.　(C)　2016　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.