Heat　recovery　significantly　and　positively　affects　energy　conservation　and　prevents　global　warming.　A　small　flat　heat　pipe　heat　recovery　device　(SFHPHRD),　which　applies　flat　micro-heat　pipe　array　(FMHPA)　with　welded,　serrated　and　staggered　fin　on　its　surface,　is　designed　as　a　core　heat　transfer　component　in　the　heat　recovery　systems　of　residential　buildings.　The　air　volume　flow　ratio　between　fresh　air　and　exhaust　air　was　maintained　at　a　value　of　1　in　the　experiment.　Under　simulated　winter　and　summer　conditions,　the　performance　of　SFHPHRD　under　varying　indoor　and　outdoor　air　temperatures,　air　volume　flows　and　rows　of　FMHPAs　were　separately　investigated.　Heat　recovery　efficiency,　coefficient　of　performance　(COP)　and　device　volume　were　also　analyzed.　Important　influencing　factors,　which　affect　the　performance　of　SFHPHRD,　were　considered.　Experimental　data　were　combined　actual　data　from　buildings　to　analyze　the　energy　conservation　capacity　and　application　of　SFHPHRD.　Results　showed　that　efficient　heat　transfer　of　FMHPA　with　welded,　serrated,　and　staggered　fin　and　the　independent　components　enables　SFHPHRD　to　possess　high　heat　recovery　efficiency,　high　reliability,　low　resistance,　and　suitable　volume.　The　maximum　high　heat　recovery　efficiency　and　COP　can　reach　78%　and　91.9　under　experimental　conditions,　respectively.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.