Radial Distribution Test Feeders

Distribution System Analysis Subcommittee Report

Abstract: Many computer programs are available for

the analysis of radial distribution feeders. In 1992 a IL Basic Data
paper was published [1] that presented the complete
data for three four-wire wye and one three-wire delta The following data will be common for all systems:
radial distribution test feeders. The purpose of
publishing the data was to make available a common Load Models:
set of data that could be used by program developers
and users to verify the correctness of their solutions. Loads can be connected at a node (spot load) or assumed
to be uniformly distributed along a line section (distributed
This paper presents an updated version of the same test load). Loads can be three-phase (balanced or unbalanced)
feeders along with a simple system that can be used to or single-phase. Three-phase loads can be connected in
test three-phase transformer models. wye or delta while single-phase loads can be connected
line-to-ground or line-to-line. All loads can be modeled
Keywords: distribution system analysis, test systems, as constant kW and kVAr (PQ), constant impedance (Z) or
computer programs, transformer models constant current (I).
Table 1 lists the codes that will be used to describe the
L Introduction various loads.

In recent years many digital computer programs have been Table 1

developed for the analysis of unbalanced three-phase radial Load Model Codes
distribution feeders. The programs use a wide variety of
iterative techniques and range from very simple with many
simplifying assumptions made for line and load models to
very sophisticated with little if any simplifying
assumptions. With so many different programs available
there is a need for benchmark test feeders so that the
results of various programs can be compared.

This paper presents the complete data for three four-wire

wye, one three-wire delta test feeders and a simple feeder Single-phase loads connected line-to-line will be assigned
for testing three-phase transformer models. Only the data
delta connection codes regardless of whether the feeder is
for the 13 node test feeder will be presented in this paper.
a four-wire wye or three-wire delta.
The complete data and solutions for all of the test feeders
can be downloaded ffom the Internet at
All of the load data will be specified in kW and kVAr or
http://ewh.ieee. org/soc/pes/dsacom/test feeders. html. kW and power factor per phase. For constant current and
constant impedance loads the kW and kVAr should be
The systems described in this paper were approved by the Distribution
Systems Analysis Subcommittee during the 2000 PES Summer Meeting.
converted by assuming rated voltage (1.0 per-unit). For
The paper was witten by W. H. Kersting, Professor of Electrical wye connected loads, phases 1, 2 and 3 will be connected
Engineering at New Mexico State University. a-g, b-g and c-g respectively and delta connected loads
will be connected a-b, b-c and c-a respectively. Only non-
zero loads will be given in the various feeder load tables.
All other loads are assumed to be zero.

Shunt Capacitors:

Shunt capacitor banks may be three-phase wye or delta

connected and single-phase connected line-to-ground or
line-to-line. The capacitors are modeled as constant
susceptance and specified at nameplate rated kVAr.

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 1 . .. , .-. ----- . . . . -.. I
# II(J AA 0.970 U.36X U.ulll 31U
Overhead Spacing Models: #2 AA 1.54 0.292 0.00883 156
#2 ACSR 1.69 0.316 0.00418 180
The spacing ID numbers and type for overhead lines are
#4 ACSR 2.55 0.257 0.00452 140
summarized in Table 2.
# 10 Cu 5.903 0,102 0.00331 80
# 12 Cu 9.375 0.081 0.00262 75
Table 2 # 14 Cu 14.872 0.064 0.00208 20
Overhead Line Spacings
Underground Spacing Models:

The spacing ID numbers and type for underground lines

are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4
Figure 1 shows the spacing distances between the phase Underground Line Spacings
conductors and the neutral conductor for Spacing ID
numbers used for the overhead lines. .’$j &3fI ‘m ‘,,: ~’.: ‘;:;&&ii “’..$,,,,.;
‘. “:’:/+3?

~2.5 +45+ l+----- 7.0 --+

? ~
9 Q ? 9 Q
Figure 2 shows the spacing distances between cables for
underground lines:

~ 6“ +++ 6“ + ~1’ ~
‘ A ‘ 4 ; ●
240 240 240
00 ● *
ID-515 ID -520
Figure 2 – Underground Line Spacings
v u
Zcm &
ID-500 ID-505 ID-51O Cable Data:

Figure 1 – Overhead Line Spacings Table 5 lists the characteristics of the various concentric
neutral cables [4] that are used in the test feeders. The
Conductor Data column numbers correspond to:

Table 3 lists the characteristics of the various conductors 1 – Conductor size in AWG or kcmil
that are used for the overhead configurations in the test 2 – Diameter over insulation (inches)
feeders[2,3 ]. The columns correspond to: 3 – Diameter over screen (inches)
4 – Outside diameter (inches)
1 – Conductor size in AWG or kcmil 5 – Copper 1/3 neutral (No. x AWG)
2 – Type of conductor 6 – Ampacity in 4 inch duct
AA = All Aluminum
ACSR = Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced Table 5
CU = Copper Concentric Neutral 15 kV All Aluminum (AA) Cable
3– 60 Hz resistance at 50 degrees C (ohms/mile)
1 2 3 4 5 6
4– Conductor outside diameter (inches) 2(7x) 0.78 0.85 0.98 6x14 135
5- Geometric Mean Radius (R) 110(19X) 0.85 0.93 1.06 6x14 175
6– Ampacity at 50 degrees C (amps) 2/0(19x) 0.90 0.97 1.10 7X14 200
250(37x) 1.06 1.16 1.29 13X14 260
500(37X) 1.29 1.39 1,56 16x 12 385
Table 3
10OO(61X) 1.64 1.77 1.98 20X 10 550
Conductor Data

Table 6 lists the characteristics of a tape shielded

.’:”1 ., “2 ““ 3 4 5. 6
1,000 AA 0.105 1.15 0.0368 698 conductor used in the test feeders. The column numbers
556.5 ACSR 0.1859 0.927 0.0313 730 correspond to:
500 AA 0.206 0.813 0,026 483
336.4 ACSR 0.306 0.721 0.0244 530 1– Conductor size in AWG
250 AA 0.410 0.567 0.0171 329
2– Diameter over insulation (inches)
# 4/0 ACSR 0.592 0,563 0.00814 340
# 2/0 AA 0.769 0.414 0.0125 230 3– Diameter over the shield
# 1/0 ACSR 1,12 0.398 0.00446 230 4– Jacket thickness (roils)

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 5 – Outside diameter (inches) used in the feeder. The impedance matrix assumes a
6 – Ampacity in 4 inch duct (amps) resistivity of 100 Ohm-meters and the admittance
matrix assumes a relative permittivity of 2.3.
Table 6 2. Radial Flow Summary –a summary of the system
Tape Shielded 15 kV All Aluminum (AA) Cable input, total load, total losses and total shunt capacitors
Tape Thickness = 5 roils by phase and total three-phase.
3. Voltage Profile – voltage magnitudes and angles by
phase at each node. Voltage magnitudes are given in
per-unit.
4. Voltage Regulator Data – for each regulator in the
Configuration Codes:
system a summary of the settings and the final tap
settings.
Each test feeder will have a table of “Configuration
5. Radial Power Flow – complete node data including
Codes”. The configuration code is a unique number
line flows in amps and degrees by phase. Line power
assigned to describe the spacing model (Tables 2 and 4),
losses by phase and total three-phase are also given.
the phasing (left to right) and the phase and neutral
conductors used.
The IEEE 13 Node Test Feeder

Line Segment Data:

This feeder is very small and yet displays some very
interesting characteristics.
Each test feeder will have a table of “Line Segment Data”.
The data will consist of the node terminations of each line
1. Short and relatively highly loaded for a 4.16 kV feeder
segment (Node A and Node B), the length of the line
2. One substation voltage regulator consisting of three
segment and a configuration code (Config.). There is no
single-phase units connected in wye
significance in the order in which the data appears or
3. Overhead and underground lines with variety of
whether node A or node B is closer to the source.
phasing
4. Shunt capacitor banks
Voltage Regulators:
5. In-line transformer
6. Unbalanced spot and distributed loads
Voltage regulators are assumed to be “step-type” and can
be connected in the substation andJor to a specified line
For a small feeder this will provide a good test for the most
segment. The regulators can be three-phase or single-
common features of distribution analysis software.
phase. Tap positions will be determined by the
compensator circuit settings described by:
The complete data for this system is given below to
illustrate the form of the data for all of the test feeders.
1. Voltage Level – desired voltage (on a 120 volt base)
to be held at the regulating point.
One Line Diagram
2. Bandwidth – the voltage level tolerance usually
assumed to be 2 volts.
3. Compensator – resistance (R) and reactance (X) 7!7”0
settings – the equivalent resistance and reactance 645 632 633 634
646
between the regulator and the regulating point ●
calibrated in volts. = @
4. PT Ratio – turns ratio of the potential transformer
feeding the compensator circuit.
5. CT Rating – the current rating on the primary of the
current transformer feeding the compensator circuit.

III. The Test Feeders

The data for the feeders is so extensive that only the data
for the 13 node feeder will be given in this paper. Data for
all of the test feeders can be downloaded from:
‘?”
Underground
b
652 680
&

Line Configuration Data:

“
http: //ewh.ieee.org/soc/pes/dsacom/testfeeders.html.
The data is in a spreadsheet format. In addition to the data
a solution for each of the feeders can be downloaded. The
solution consists of:
1. Listing of the per mile phase impedance and
admittance matrices for each of the configurations

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 Overhead Line Configuration Data: Transformer Data:

I I I t 1 1 I

Spot Load Data:

Line Segment Data:

1
645 Y-PQ o 0 170 125 0 0
646 D-Z o 0 230 132 0 0

\ 652 Y-z 128 86 0 0 0 0

632 633 500 602
671 D-PQ 385 220 385 220 385 220
633 634 0 XFM-I
675 Y-PQ 485 190 68 60 290 212
645 646 300 603
692 D-1 o 0 0 0 170 151
650 632 2000 601
611 Y-1 o 0 0 0 170 80
684 652 800 607
TOTAL 1158 606 973 627 1135 753
632 671 2000 601
671 684 300 604
Distributed Load Data:
671 680 1000 601
671 692 0 Switch
684 611 300 605
692 675 500 606
I 1 1 1 t I ! ! I

Capacitor Data: IEEE 123 Node Test Feeder

The IEEE 123 node test feeder operates at a nominal

voltage of 4.16 kV. While this is not a popular voltage
level it does provide voltage drop problems that must be
611 100 solved with the application of voltage regulators and shunt
Total 200 200 300
capacitors. For programs that can “allocate” load, this will
be a good test feeder to use. There are enough switches in
the feeder so that “optimal” configuration procedures can
Regulator Data:
be tested.

This is the most comprehensive feeder and is characterized

I by:
Location: 650
Phases: A- B-C 1. Overhead and underground line segments with various
Connection: 3-Ph,LG phasing.
Monitoring Phase: A-B-C 2. Unbalanced loading with all combinations of load
2,0 volts
types (PQ, constant I, constant Z)
Bandwidth:
3. All loads are “spot loads” located at a node
PT Ratio: 20
4. Four step-type voltage regulators
Primary CT Rating: 700
5. Shunt capacitor banks
Compensator Settings: Ph-A Ph-B Ph-C
6. Switching to provide alternate paths ofpower-flow
R - Setting: 3 3 3
X - Setting: 9 9 9 This feeder is well behaved and does not have a
Volltage Level: 122 122 122 convergence problem. It provides a test of the modeling of
the phasing of the lines. The four voltage regulators
provide a good test to assure that the changing of

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 individual regulator taps is coordinated with the other
regulators. Test results for this feeder include the following
transformer connections for step-down and step-up
The IEEE 34 Node Test Feeder operations and for balanced and unbalanced loading.

This feeder is an actual feeder located in Arizona. The 1. Grounded Wye – Grounded Wye
feeder’s nominal voltage is 24.9 kV. It is characterized by: 2. Grounded Wye – Delta
3. Ungrounded Wye – Delta
1. Very long and lightly loaded 4. Delta – Grounded Wye
2. Two in-line regulators required to maintain a good 5. Delta – Delta
voltage profile 6. Open Wye – Open Delta
3. An in-line transformer reducing the voltage to 4.16 kV
for a short section of the feeder IV. Summary
4. Unbalanced loading with both “spot” and
“distributed” loads. Distributed loads are assumed to Data for five different test feeders has been developed.
be connected at the center of the line segment Data appearing in this paper are “common” to all of the
5. Shunt capacitors feeders. The total data for the 13 node test feeder is
included to illustrate the form of the data for the other test
Because of the length of the feeder and the unbalanced feeders. The data and one-line diagrams for the other test
loading it can have a convergence problem. feeders are too extensive to be included in the paper. The
data for all five test feeders are in spreadsheet format and
The IEEE 37 Node Test Feeder can be downloaded from the Web at:

This feeder is an actual feeder located in California. The http: //ewh.ieee.org/soc/pes/dsacom/testfeeders.html

characteristics of the feeder are:
The test feeders have been studied using the Radial
1. Three-wire delta operating at a nominal voltage of Distribution Analysis Package of WH Power Consultants,
4.8 kV Las Cruces, New Mexico and/or Windmil developed by
2. All line segments are underground Milsofl Integrated Solutions, Abilene, Texas. The results
3. Substation voltage regulator consisting of two single- of these tests are included with the data for each feeder.
phase units connected in open delta
4. All loads are “spot” loads and consist of constant PQ, Sotlware developers are encouraged to test their sofiware
constant current and constant impedance using these test feeders and to publish the results. The
5. The loading is very unbalanced hope is that in time there will be agreement on the results
in the same way that there is agreement on the various test
Although there are very few three-wire delta systems in systems used by network power-flow programs.
use, there is a need to test software to assure that it can
handle this type of feeder. V. References:

The IEEE Four Node Test Feeder 1. IEEE Distribution Planning Working Group Report,
“Radial distribution test feeders”, IEEE Transactions
This feeder was not part of the original set of test systems on Power Systems,, August 1991, Volume 6, Number
published in 1992. The primary purpose of this test feeder 3, pp 975-985.
is to provide a simple system for the testing of all possible 2. J.D. Glover and M. Sarma, “Power system analysis
three-phase transformer connections. Characteristics of and design”, 2“d Edition, PWS Publishing Company,
the feeder are: Boston, MA, 1994.
3. “Overhead conductor manual”, Southwire Company,
1. Two line segments with a three-phase transformer Carrolkon, GA, 1994.
bank connected between the two segments 4. “Product data”, Section 2, Sheets 10 and 30., The
2. Data is specified for “closed” three-phase transformer Okonite Company, www.okonite.com
connections and for two transformer “open”
connections
3. Transformer data is specified for step-up and step-
down testing. The primary vokage is always 12.47
kV while the secondary voltage can be either 4.16 kV
or 24.9 kV.
4. Data is specified for balanced and unbalanced loading
at the most remote node

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