In airplanes, the nacelle is a covered housing separated from the main structure that usually holds engines, fuel, or equipment. The covering is shaped in a curved manner, in order to maximize aerodynamics.
In balloons, nacelles are suspended baskets containing machinery and passengers.
The word nacelle is derived from the Old French nacele, which means a small boat or dinghy, and was in turn derived from the Latin navicella.
The term is commonly used in the worlds of aviation, nautical and spacecraft design, in order to refer to a covered housing, separate from the fuselage, which usually holds engines, fuel, or equipment.
In a wind turbine, the nacelle refers to the structure on top of the tower which houses all of the generating components.
Nacelles are usually separated from the main structure of the ship because of radiation generated by the nacelles; when at optimal levels, the radiation could be deleterious to the safety of ship and crew.
Nacelles are separated from the ship by large pylons, and usually house a Bussard ramscoop at the fore end for the purpose of collecting hydrogen fuel to replenish the impulse engines.
Nacelles also have a separation system in the event that the ship is damaged and unable to retain the nacelle safely on the pylon.
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