The　pressurized　air　receivers　used　in　solar-hybrid　concentrated　solar　power　systems　play　an　important　role　in　achieving　high　solar-electricity　efficiency.　Here,　we　have　proposed,　manufactured　and　tested　a　novel　pressurized　air　receiver　coupled　with　sodium-potassium　heat　pipes　under　a　high-flux　solar　simulator　in　well-controlled　conditions.　Start-up　characteristics　and　thermal　performance　were　analyzed　with　a　heat　flux　on　the　receiver　of　around　130　kW/m(2)　proven　to　start　the　heat　pipe　thoroughly.　Thermal　test　results　showed　that　the　heat　pipe　receiver　could　obtain　high-temperature　outlet　air　exceeding　600　degrees　C　and　a　high　thermal　efficiency　of　85.01%.　A　sensitivity　analysis　revealed　that　the　thermal　efficiency　is　mainly　dominated　by　the　air　mass　flow　rate,　while　the　outlet　air　temperature　is　influenced　by　both　the　input　power　and　the　air　mass　flow　rate.　Weather　simulations　of　cloud-cover　phenomenon　demonstrated　that　the　receiver　has　good　thermal　inertia　and　can　retain　a　stable　output,　which　is　critical　under　real　operation　conditions.