The　performance　of　a　new　flat　plate　solar　heat　collector　with　perfect　combination　of　high　efficiency　and　low　cost　is　investigated　experimentally.　The　new　system　described　in　this　study　uses　a　novel　micro　heat　pipe　array　as　a　key　component　for　the　system.　One　such　flat　plate　heat　collector　contains　over　300　micro　heat　pipes　per　1m2　and　the　hydraulic　diameter　of　the　micro　heat　pipes　is　0.4-1.0mm.　A　detailed　heat　transfer　experimental　study　is　conducted　during　daylight　hours　over　several　months,　focusing　on　the　collector　efficiency　and　overall　efficiency　of　the　system　as　well　as　total　heat　loss　factor.　The　results　show　that　the　collector＇s　maximum　instantaneous　efficiency　is　up　to　88%.　Compared　with　conventional　evacuated　glass　tube　solar　water　heater,　the　system　offers　the　additional　benefits　of　high　pressure　resistance,　low　weight,　good　reliability　and　durability,　easy　integration　into　buildings　and　absence　of　freezing　during　winter　months.　Besides,　compared　with　traditional　flat-plate　solar　water　system　which　is　mainly　sheet-and-tube　concept,　the　system　also　shows　many　advantages:　higher　efficiency,　much　cheaper,　absence　of　tube-bonding　and　freezing　etc.　Therefore,　the　system　proposes　a　unique　substitute　to　common　solar　water　heating　systems.　©　2010　by　ASME.