A　new　type　of　compound　parabolic　concentrator　(CPC)　solar　air　collector　(SAC)　with　flat　micro-heat　pipe　arrays　(FMHPA)　was　investigated　in　this　study.　A　cylindrical　absorber　was　constructed　by　inserting　the　FMHPA　into　an　evacuated　glass　tube　to　transport　heat　during　the　working　process.　The　new　FMHPA-CPC　SAC　is　an　edge　ray　collector　with　a　concentration　ratio　of　1.8.　The　core　concept　is　the　integration　of　the　FMHPA,　an　absorber　tube,　and　a　CPC　reflector　as　a　heat-collecting　unit.　Thermal　performance　investigation　was　conducted　theoretically　and　experimentally.　This　study　mainly　analyzed　the　effect　of　different　factors　on　the　thermal　performance　of　the　collector.　The　efficiencies　and　heat　loss　coefficients　of　the　new　collector　were　determined.　Experimental　curves　with　different　testing　conditions　are　presented.　The　optimal　value　of　efficiency　was　determined　for　the　SAC.　The　aperture　area　of　each　CPC　collecting　unit　is　approximately　0.4　m(2).　The　new　FMHPA-CPC　SAC　was　tested　in　Beijing,　China.　The　average　efficiency　was　approximately　61%　at　a　volume　flow　rate　of　320　m(3)/h,　with　a　radiation　of　799　W/m(2)　(ambient　temperature　of　28.8　C).　The　instantaneous　efficiency　reached　68%,　depending　on　the　solar　radiation,　air　volume　flow　rate,　and　ambient　temperature.　In　addition,　the　time　constant　of　the　collector　was　approximately　14.8　min,　with　an　air　volume　flow　rate　of　260　m(3)/h.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.