Based upon the heat transfer analysis of the performance of the heat pipe flat plate collector, some experimental studies were carried out on the heat transfer characteristics of a closed thermosiphon (gravity-assisted) heat pipe under the heat flux conditions occurring in flat plate solar collectors. An outdoor performance test of a heat pipe solar collector and a conventional one which has the same structure and size was undertaken. The experimental research indicates that little thermal performance improvement will be obtained in a heat pipe solar collector; however, with a view to solving the freezing and corrosion problems of solar collectors, it is worthwhile to do further R&D on the use of heat pipe technology in flat plate solar collectors