目前的接地线圈设计方法都是基于线源理论。不幸的是，这些方法不能考虑许多因素——包括水分运动和干燥、收缩、表面效应等——这些因素可能会对接地线圈的性能产生显著影响。最终，应开发包含这些因素的接地线圈计算机模型。在此之前，小规模的实验方法提供了一种快速、廉价地确定接地线圈在特定土壤环境中的性能的方法。 小规模试验还可以提供有价值的信息，以帮助开发无法从现场数据获得的计算机模型。本文建立了小规模试验的分析基础。文中还介绍了几种经验证的潜在应用。讨论了目前用于确定地下电缆容量的热探头的操作。这样的探头可以用来模拟冷却季节的接地线圈，经过一些修改后，还可以用来模拟可逆热泵接地线圈所经历的年周期。 还描述了实验室模拟器的操作。该模拟器可以解释前面列出的大多数因素，还可以隔离每个因素的影响。热泵的年循环可在2.3天内模拟。能够在短时间内隔离影响并完成测试，使实验室模拟器成为计算机模型开发和实验优化研究的非常有用的工具。单位:I-PCITION:研讨会，ASHRAE交易，1985年，第91卷，pt。你好，檀香山2B

Current earth coil design methods are based on line source theory. Unfortunately, these methods cannot account for a number of factors - including moisture movement and drying, shrinkage, surface effects, etc. - that can have a dramatic effect on earth coil performance. Eventually, computer models of earth coils that include these factors should be developed. Until they are, small scale experimental methods offer a way to quickly and inexpensively determine how well an earth coil will perform in a particular soil environment. Small scale tests can also provide valuable information to aid in computer model development which cannot be obtained from field data.The analytical basis for small scale testing is developed in this paper. Several proven and potential applications are also presented. The operation of thermal probes that are currently used to determine underground electric cable capacity is discussed. A probe such as this can be used to simulate an earth coil during the cooling season, and, with some modification, be used to simulate the annual cycle undergone by a reversible heat pump earth coil. The operation of a laboratory simulator is also described. This simulator can account for most of the factors listed earlier and also isolate the effect of each factor. The annual cycle undergone by a heat pump can be simulated in 2.3 days. The ability to isolate effects and complete a test in a short time makes the laboratory simulator an extremely useful tool for computer model development and experimental optimization studies.Units: I-P