A　novel　flat　plate　solar　collector　with　micro-channel　heat　pipe　array　(MHPA-FPC)　is　presented　in　this　paper.　Firstly,　a　preliminary　test　was　conducted　to　investigate　the　thermal　performance　of　the　MHPA.　It　has　been　found　that　the　surface　temperature　along　the　length　of　MHPA　can　get　stable　within　2　min.　The　temperature　difference　between　the　evaporator　and　condenser　sections　was　less　than　1　degrees　C,　which　indicates　that　the　MHPA　has　excellent　isothermal　ability　and　quick　thermal　respond　speed.　Based　on　these　advantages,　the　MHPA　was　applied　to　the　development　of　a　novel　solar　collector.　The　performance　test　was　conducted　following　the　Chinese　standard　GB/T4271-2007,　and　a　linear　correlation　between　the　instantaneous　efficiency　eta　and　the　reduced　temperature　parameter　(T-wi-T-a).I-1　was　established.　The　maximum　instantaneous　efficiency　was　found　to　be　80%,　and　the　slope　was　-4.72.　These　values　are　11.4%　and　21.3%　superior　to　the　technical　required　values　of　the　Chinese　national　standard.　Test　results　were　further　compared　with　6　groups　of　15　samples　coming　either　from　either　open　literature　or　commercial　products.　The　comparisons　indicated　that　the　maximum　instantaneous　efficiency　of　the　MHPA-FPC　surpassed　25%　over　the　average　level　of　those　selected　samples　and　better　thermal　insulation　ability　was　presented　by　the　MHPA-FPC.　These　results　from　this　study　demonstrate　that　the　novel　MHPA-FPC　is　one　of　the　top　level　solar　collectors　among　the　current　products.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.