In　this　paper,　a　novel　solar　heat　engine　with　compact　structure　and　low　installation　cost　is　developed　and　tested.　It　absorbed　solar　radiation　and　worked　intermittently.　The　device　is　composed　mainly　of　the　solar　collector　of　Fresnel　lens,　the　quartz　glass　window,　the　internal　heating　pipe,　the　water　cooling　coil,　the　air　tank　and　the　water　cooling　tank.　Through　experiments,　the　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　temperature　of　each　component　during　the　operation　of　the　compressor　were　studied.　The　typical　test　result　has　revealed　that　when　the　ambient　temperature　is　28,　the　air　pressure　increased　from　0.100　MPa　to　0.121　MPa　as　the　system　was　subjected　to　the　solar　heating　for　100　minutes　at　the　average　solar　radiation　intensity　of　885　W/m2.　Correspondingly,　the　wall　temperature　of　the　internal　heating　pipe　reached　about　310.　On　the　other　hand,　after　the　air　discharge　the　pressure　in　the　tank　decreased　gradually　from　0.100　MPa　to　0.089　MPa　with　the　cooling　effect　of　the　water　loop.　The　thick　flange　caused　huge　heat　capacity　loss　during　the　heating　process,　which　resulted　in　a　lower　heat　absorption　rate　of　the　air.　Therefore　the　compressor　needs　to　be　improved　in　the　structure.　In　addition,　it　is　also　found　that　the　ambient　temperature　has　little　effect　on　system　performance.　The　maximum　heat　engine　efficiency　can　reach　22.01%　in　the　experiment.　©　2019,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.