In　order　to　improve　the　efficiency　of　solar　air　heater,　a　novel　solar　air　heater　with　flat　micro-heat　pipe　arrays　(FMHPA)　is　presented　in　this　study.　The　structure　of　FMHPA-solar　air　heater,　the　working　principle　and　experimental　test　facility　have　also　been　described　in　detail.　The　efficiency,　the　pressure　drop　and　the　time　constant　are　determined　for　the　FMHPA-solar　air　heater.　The　results　showed　that　the　average　thermal　efficiency　of　the　solar　air　heater　is　up　to　70%　of　stable　operation　and　time　constant　is　about　14　minutes.　Experimental　results　indicate　better　thermal　efficiency　for　FMHPA-solar　air　heater　compared　to　a　traditional　flat　plate　heater.　(C)　2015　The　Authors.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　This　is　an　open　access　article　under　the　CC　BY-NC-ND　license　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).