In　this　study,　a　novel　solar　air　collector　with　transparent-vacuum　glass　tube　is　designed　and　investigated　through　experiment　and　numerical　simulation.　The　collector　consists　of　micro-heat　pipe　arrays　(MHPA),　selective　absorption　film　and　transparent-vacuum　glass　tube.　The　absorption　film　is　directly　pasted　on　the　MHPA　by　using　heat-conducting　glue,　which　is　then　placed　into　transparent-vacuum　glass　tube.　The　efficient　heat　conduction　of　MHPA　and　good　thermal　insulation　of　the　transparent-vacuum　glass　tube　contribute　to　the　high　efficiency　and　low　pressure　loss　of　the　collector.　The　collector　average　efficiency　can　reach　82.7%　and　the　pressure　loss　is　less　than　20　Pa.　This　collector　form　for　heating　spaces　and　drying　crops　is　new　and　effective.　Increasing　the　air　volume　flow　rate　can　considerably　improve　the　collecting　efficiency.　The　ambient　temperature　in　winter　results　in　a　higher　efficiency　than　that　in　summer.　Furthermore,　a　calculation　numerical　model,　which　is　used　to　develop　20　collecting　units,　is　established　and　verified　for　validity.　This　model　can　obtain　temperature　increase　in　each　collecting　unit.　Considering　the　temperature　increase　in　each　collecting　unit　and　the　thermal　efficiency,　the　proposed　maximum　collecting　unit　quantity　is　20.　Study　results　provide　a　theoretical　guidance　for　designing　MHPA　solar　air　collector.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.