What type of linear voltage regulator is used in applications requiring a constant load on the unregulated voltage source?

A shunt regulator is connected in parallel (shunt) with the load. It maintains a constant voltage across the load by shunting excess current away to ground. Because the total current supplied by the unregulated source is the sum of the load current and the shunt current, the unregulated source sees a constant total load regardless of how much current the actual load draws. This makes the shunt regulator ideal for applications requiring a constant current draw from the source. In contrast, a series regulator is placed in series with the load and only draws as much current as the load demands, which causes the load on the unregulated source to fluctuate.