The basic physical model of solar receiver pipe with solar selective coating is established, and associated heat transfer and exergetic performances are analyzed and optimized. Because of the heat losses of natural convection and infrared radiation, the energy absorption efficiency has a maximum at optimal incident energy flux. As the pipe radius decreases or flow velocity rises, the wall temperature drops for higher heat transfer coefficient, while the heat absorption efficiency increases. Along the flow direction, the heat absorption efficiency almost linearly decreases, while the exergetic efficiency will first increase and then decrease. As the inlet temperature rises, the heat absorption efficiency of the solar receiver pipe decreases, while the exergetic efficiency of absorbed energy obviously increases, so the exergetic efficiency of incident energy will reach maximum at the optimal inlet temperature. Additionally, the maximum exergetic efficiency of incident energy and optimal inlet temperature both increase with flow velocity. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.