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Home / Technical Articles / 4 Main Types Of Distribution Feeder Systems To Recognize

Distribution Feeder Systems

Let’s take a look at the four most common distribution feeder systems applied nowadays. There are few other variations, but we will stick to the basic ones. It’s very important to understand why and where each of distribution feeder systems (topologies) are used, because whatever you do (design of secondary substations, performing testing of secondary switchgears or transformers or planning etc.) this would be the very first thing to know.

4 Main Types Of Distribution Feeder Systems To Recognize
4 Main Types Of Distribution Feeder Systems To Recognize (on photo: ABB's ring main unit; credit: transmar.ru)

So, these are the distribution feeder systems we’ll speak about //

  1. Radial
  2. Parallel feeders
  3. Ring main
  4. Meshed systems

1. Radial

Many distribution systems operate using a radial feeder system. A typical radial feeder system is shown schematically in Figure 2. Radial feeders are the simplest and least expensive, both to construct and for their protection system.

This advantage however is offset by the difficulty of maintaining supply in the event of a fault occurring in the feeder.

A fault would result in the loss of supply to a number of customers until the fault is located and cleared. The next level of reliability is given by a ‘parallel feeder’ system.

Radial feeder system
Figure 2 – Radial feeder system

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2. Parallel feeders

A greater level of reliability at a higher cost is achieved with a parallel feeder. A typical parallel feeder system is shown schematically in Figure 3.

In the event of a line fault only one of the feeder sets of cables will be affected, thus allowing the remaining parallel feeder to continue to supply the load.

To improve the reliability factor it may be possible to have the separate sets of cables follow different routes. In this case the capital cost is double that of a radial feeder but there is a greater reliability factor for the line. This may be justified if the load is higher, more customers are being supplied, or there are loads such as hospitals which require high levels of reliability.

Parallel feeders are more common in urban areas or for feeders to large single customers, where load shedding in an emergency may be possible.

Parallel feeder system
Figure 3 – Parallel feeder system

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3. Ring main

A similar level of system reliability to that of the parallel arrangement can be achieved by using ring main feeders. This usually results from the growth of load supplied by a parallel feeder where the cabling has been installed along different routes. These are most common in urban and industrial environments.

Whilst the start and finish ends of the ring are at the same location, power is delivered by both pathways of the ring into substations located around the ring.

Should a fault occur on a feeder cable at any point around the ring the faulty section may be isolated by the operation of the protecting circuit breakers, at the same time maintaining supply to all substations on the ring.

In typical urban / suburban ring main arrangements, the open ring is operated manually and loss of supply restored by manual switching.

A ring main feeder system
Figure 4 – A ring main feeder system

Current practice is to use distribution automation, where operation and supply restoration in the feeder rings is done automatically by centrally controlled supervisory systems.

This gives the advantages of ring main systems as line voltage drops are reduced at the various load substations there is a ‘firm’ supply (i.e. an alternative path is available if the primary one fails) to each load substation.

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4. Meshed systems

In transmission and sub-transmission systems, usually parallel, ring or interconnected (mesh) systems are used. This ensures that alternative supply can be made to customers in the event of failure of a transmission line or element.

The extra expense can be justified because of the much greater load and number of customers that are affected by failure of lines at transmission or sub-transmission levels.

The general rule is that where large loads or numbers of customers are involved, then some form of standby, in the form of deliberate redundancy, is built into the network design, through the use of parallel, meshed or ring type feeders.

Meshed systems
Figure 4 – Meshed systems

Only in outer rural areas would one consider using only radial supply at a sub-transmission level. On the other hand, simple radial supply is almost universally used for low voltage (400V) feeders, even in urban areas, because they supply relatively few customers.

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Medium voltage switchgear NXAIR

NXAIR – The medium voltage air-insulated switchgear from Siemens, type-tested for indoor installation according to IEC 62271-200.

Reference // Design guide for overhead distribution systems – Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Electrical, Electronics Engineering Department

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

16 Comments


  1. sobhy farag
    Apr 13, 2020

    the parallel system also include parallel in the transformer not only parallel in the C.B


  2. Affan Shaikh
    May 29, 2019

    Very important and informative.


  3. Diary
    Mar 31, 2019

    Dears
    we have a residence housing project which supplied from 33kV switch gear. in case of electricity shortage we installed backup set of generators ,synchronized and we want to feed the project by stepping up DG voltage from 400 V to 33kV volt . this will be through 0.4/33kV transformer and 33kV ATS panels. my question was which vector group should be the step up transformer if we know the 33kV line is 3 cables (RST) and the DG output is 4 wire (RST-N).


  4. Vijay
    Mar 31, 2019

    great read


  5. Musaib Haider
    Mar 31, 2019

    Sir there is a need of Pdf so we can take advantage by offline.


  6. Prof Khaled Ellihy
    Feb 05, 2019

    Great efforts Eng Edvard 👍


  7. MOHMA
    Feb 11, 2018

    Thank you


  8. arif
    Nov 29, 2017

    Great job on your website


  9. Vaishali
    Nov 06, 2017

    This site useful to me and I wants to connect this site it’s very useful☺


  10. Daniel Castañeda Galvan
    Oct 11, 2017

    Hello Mr o Ms.
    My name is Daniel Castañeda Galva. I´m from Mexico. I´m studied electrical mechanic engineer.
    I´m desinging electrical installition for hospital.
    Can you have any electrical software?
    Thank you!!


  11. Jackie
    Aug 17, 2017

    Thank you Edvard for your generosity. The info here is great


  12. John Y Mathew
    Jul 05, 2017

    Great job on your website


  13. nwafor kennedy
    Dec 23, 2016

    Good day. Please I’m working on a project and I’ve been wondering, can a single electricity distribution pole have any amount of distribution feeders (like 10) or is there a particular amount? Thanks.


  14. muthu mohamed
    Jul 11, 2016

    I need to learn more about the designing procedure of variouscontrol circuits and programming in Siemens plc. Can u guide me.


  15. muthu mohamed
    Jul 11, 2016

    I feel interested in reading this. I want to know more. This helps in learning good. Thank u so much.

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