Impact of GOOSE Messages on

IED Protection Schemes

by Henri Grasset

Executive summary
Generic Object Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE)
messaging plays an important role in achieving multi-
vendor interoperability as prescribed within the IEC
61850 standard. Historically, protection schemes relied
on hardwired connections between Intelligent
Electronic Devices (IEDs). This approach makes
correcting, modifying, and updating the protection logic
difficult. This paper reviews how GOOSE messaging
simplifies the entire IED interoperability process.
998-2095-11-24-15AR0
 Impact of GOOSE Messages on IED Protection Schemes

Introduction In the realm of substation automation, protection schemes have been traditionally based on a
communication approach that uses hardwired direct point-to-point connections between
Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) with relay outputs wired to optically isolated inputs.
Within each IED, physical opto inputs were linked to information to be processed and the
physical relay output was linked to the information to be sent to other IEDs (see Figures 1
and 2) Thise ay to Opto cab
approach madegcorrecting,
co u catmodifying,
o and updating the protection logic difficult
as additional wiringCoppe cab es needed to be performed in order to add new input or output
(or rewiring)
signals.

Figure 1
Example of
communication based on
2 relay outputs and 2 opto
inputs per IED (6 copper Relay outputs Relay outputs Relay outputs
cables) IED A IED B IED C
Opto inputs Opto inputs Opto inputs

Figure 2
Example of an IED
configuration of 3 opto
inputs and 4 relay outputs

The increasing use of Ethernet as a popular communications protocol and the availability and
GOOSE acceptance of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850 GOOSE (Generic
communication Object-Oriented Substation Events) messaging standards have eliminated the need for such
on Ethernet hardwiring and have simplified the work of engineers, architects, and network designers.

network GOOSE is a fast messaging paradigm used in IEC 61850 based systems to share mission
critical information (e.g. protection trip and switchgear positions) between distributed
functions. GOOSE messages are managed by their respective GOOSE control block. Within
each IED, virtual GOOSE inputs are linked to information to be processed and virtual GOOSE
outputs are linked to information to be sent to other IEDs (see Figures 3 and 4).

The IEC 61850 protocol specifies the following:

• A fast repetition of GOOSE messages to avoid any loss of information. (Even if, in very
rare occurrences, the first GOOSE message were lost, its first repetition would be
received a millisecond after).
• A periodic GOOSE emission in order to inform the subscribers that the publisher is
healthy.

Schneider Electric White Paper Revision 0 Page 2

 Impact of GOOSE Messages on IED Protection Schemes

GOOS co u cat o
oca ea et o ( b e o Coppe )

Switch LAN

Figure 3
Example of
communication based on
GOOSE messages (1
Ethernet network)

IEC61850 IEC61850 IEC61850

IED A IED B IED C

Figure 4
Example of an IED
configuration of GOOSE
inputs and GOOSE
outputs

Publisher/Subscriber philosophy
A GOOSE message is a multicast message. GOOSE messages are published by an IED on
the network. All the other IEDs that have to react upon it must subscribe to this message.
Therefore, the GOOSE message can only send a piece of information about the publisher
IED.

There are some common misconceptions about how GOOSE messages are interpreted:

• A GOOSE message is sent from IED “A” to IED “B” only (this is incorrect)
• It is an order such as “IED “A” asks or orders IED “B” to trip” (this also is incorrect)

Table 1 lists some examples of how GOOSE messages operate and communicate between
various IEDs.

Example of an intertrip scheme

Example of a breaker failure initiation
from IED “A” to IED “B”
Table 1 IED “A” detects a fault and trips its breaker, the adjacent
IED “A” detects a fault and trips its breaker but the other breakers are also tripped by all the adjacent IEDs from IED “B”
GOOSE communication
end of the line breaker also is tripped by IED “B” to IED “x” if the fault is not cleared after a set time.
examples
• IED “A” sends a GOOSE message to inform that it • IED “A” sends a GOOSE message to inform that it has
has tripped its breaker tripped its breaker
• IED “B” subscribes to this message and trips its • IED “B” to IED “x” all subscribe to this message and,
breaker once this information is received once this information is received they start their timers
and trip their breakers when the set time is reached.

Schneider Electric White Paper Revision 0 Page 3

 Impact of GOOSE Messages on IED Protection Schemes

Benefits of GOOSE schemes

GOOSE messaging introduces a number of benefits for those stakeholders seeking to
streamline and strengthen their power networks. Table 2 summarizes a list of efficiency
and cost savings.

Table 2
Comparison of GOOSE approach to traditional approach

Benefit Traditional approach GOOSE messaging approach

Unit space • Number of opto inputs and relay outputs can be

• Higher number of opto inputs and relay outputs reduced and thus the IED physical size can
savings
required. range from either 80TE to 60TE or 40TE or from
(hardware) 60TE to 40TE
• All typical drawings that define the
Schematic layout communication wirings are replaced by an IEC
time and labor • Typical schematic drawings and layouts required 61850 configuration description file that can be
savings engineered with a tool such as the Schneider
Electric System Engineering Tool (SET).
• All of these cables that typically connect relay
Less labor- • Dozens or hundreds of cables are required to
outputs to opto inputs are replaced by fewer
intensive wiring connect relay outputs to opto inputs
fiber optics or Ethernet cables
Net reduction in • The extra space needed for Ethernet switches is
• Traditional IEDs require a significant amount of
terms of overall more than compensated for by the significant
physical space when a solution is configured
space required space savings that result from the smaller IEDs.

Factory • All the wires used in testing hardwired

Acceptance Test communication need to be installed and checked • Only the connection of IEDs to an Ethernet
carefully before the protection scheme test. If all Network is required and if some relays are not
(FAT) time and the relays are not present, the full test cannot be present, they can be simulated.
labor savings completed
• As long as the IED is not receiving the expected
Site • All communication wire testing needs to be rerun
GOOSE messages it has subscribed to, it shows
commissioning on site and all incorrectly wired cables must be
an alarm. If this alarm does not appear, it means
time and labor rewired
that the Ethernet Network is working and the
savings GOOSE messages are received.
Enhanced
• Since GOOSE messages are periodically
protection and • If a wire from one relay to an opto input is cut, that
published, if the communication link is faulty, an
reliability will only be detected when the engineered scheme
alarm appears and maintenance people can
through is not operating on fault which is too late.
quickly fix the faulty link.
monitoring
Enhanced • Each wire from one relay output to an opto input
needs to be tested. These tests pose a safety risk
personnel safety, • As a GOOSE scheme is self-monitored, it is
for the testing personnel. In addition the risk of
shorter outage maintenance free.
protection scheme malfunction increases as does
period the length of potential outage.
• If a wire from one relay output to an opto input as
Easier been found cut, it has to be at least repaired or
• The personnel safety is increased and time and
communication rewired, this is neither easy nor fast to do. For
outage period are saved
link repair safety reasons, an outage is required during the
repair process.
Simpler • Only setting files need to be modified when a
• When additional equipment is added additional
engineering protection scheme is updated. No additional
wiring is required
updates wiring is required.

Schneider Electric White Paper Revision 0 Page 4

 Impact of GOOSE Messages on IED Protection Schemes

Conclusion Protection schemes have traditionally been hardwired in direct point-to-point connections
between the various Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs). This approach made ordering,
engineering, installing, testing, correcting, using, modifying, or updating protection scheme
difficult.

The introduction of new GOOSE messaging capabilities simplifies operations, saves physical
space, shortens labor time, reduces outages and increases the safety of personnel. As a
result, Total Cost of Ownership is drastically reduced and operations are optimized when
GOOSE messaging schemes are implemented.

Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

About the author

Henri Grasset is an Automation Intelligent Device Expert at Schneider Energy Division. He
holds an engineering degree from the Ecole Centrale de Nantes in France. He has worked in
the Protection and Control domain since 1999.
© 2015

Schneider Electric White Paper Revision 0 Page 5