A Detailed Analysis of the GOOSE Message Structure in an IEC 61850 Standard-Based Substation Automation System

In order to implement an IEC 61850 communication system, there needs to be a complete understanding of the methods, tools and technologies associated with the communication network, protocol and messaging underpinning the services. The IEC 61850 standard allows for communication between devices within a substation where a peer-to-peer model for Generic Substation Events (GSE) services is used for fast and reliable communication between Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs). One of the messages associated with the GSE services is the Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) message. A detailed analysis of the structure for the GOOSE message is required for fault diagnosis, or when developing hardware that is compliant with the IEC 61850 standard. This is one of the stated objectives of the Centre for Substation Automation and Energy Management Systems (CSAEMS) in the training of prospective specialists and engineers. A case study is presented where the structure of the GOOSE message as described in IEC 61850-8-1 is confirmed using firstly simulation, then experimentation with actual IEDs. In the first instance the message structure is confirmed by simulation of the GOOSE message and capturing it using network protocol analyzer software, after which analysis of the packet frame is performed. Data encoding of the GOOSE Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is analyzed with emphasis on the Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN. 1) Basic Encoding Rules (BER). The second part of the case study is conducted through experimentation with IEDs which are used to generate a GOOSE message and network protocol analyzer software is used to analyze the structure. Both the simulation and practical experimentation with actual devices confirm the GOOSE message structure as specified in part 8-1 of the IEC 61850 standard.