The short-term joint optimal operation simulation of Three Gorges cascade hydropower system aiming at maximum power generation benefit is proposed. And a new method for optimizing cascade hydropower station based on Adaptive Genetic Algorithm (AGA) with trigonometric selective operators is presented. In this paper, the practical optimal operation in power market is described. The temporal-spatial variation of flow between cascade hydropower stations is considered, and time of use (TOU) power price is also taken into account. Moreover, a contrast between Tangent-roulette selection operator and traditional one is made. To a certain degree, the results of simulative optimal operation based on several representative hydrographs show that Tangent-roulette wheel selection operator can find a more excellent solution, because the Tangent-roulette one can overcome the fitness requirements of non-negative. The research achievements also have an important reference for the compilation of daily generation scheduling of Three Gorges cascade hydropower system in the environment of power market.
