GC: n

CT: The nacelle of a wind turbine is the box-like component that sits atop the tower and is connected to the rotor. The nacelle contains the majority of the approximately 8,000 components of the wind turbine, such as the gearbox, generator, main frame, etc. The nacelle housing is made of fiberglass and protects the internal components from the environment. The nacelle cover is fastened to the main frame, which also supports all the other components inside the nacelle. The main frames are large metal structures that must be able to withstand large fatigue loads.

S: http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=5083&RDtoken=29819&userID=4379 (last access: 21 December 2014)

N: 1. late 15c., “small boat,” from Old French nacele “little boat, bark, skiff” (12c., Modern French nacelle), from Vulgar Latin naucella, from Late Latin navicella “a little ship,” diminutive of navis “ship”. Meaning “gondola of an airship” is from 1901; extended to “cockpit of an aircraft” by 1914; later transferred to other similar housings and structures.
2. A permanent enclosure mounted on top of a wind system tower, housing the generator, control system, etc.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=nacelle&searchmode=none (last access: 21 December 2014). 2. TERMIUMPLUS.

SYN: gondola, equipment pod.

S: TERMIUMPLUS

CR: blade, rotor , wind energy, wind turbine (1), yaw.