Email
rangwala@wpi.edu
Office
Gateway Park II 1210
ORCiD
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8018-7044
Personal Website
Lab Links
Combustion Lab
Affiliated Department or Office
Chemical Engineering
Education
BS Electrical Engineering, Government College of Engineering, India MS
MS Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland
PhD Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California,San Diego

 

Professor Rangwala’s research interests include problems related to industrial fire and explosion problems. He has worked on topics such as deflagration of combustible dust clouds, ignition behavior of combustible dust layers, in-situ burning of oil, spread of an oil slick in channels, velocity measuring techniques in fire induced flows, and flame propagation and burning rate behavior of condensed fuel surfaces.

He teaches courses on Explosion Dynamics, Explosion Protection, Industrial Fire Protection, Fire Dynamics, Combustion, and Heat and Mass Transfer.

Visit Digital WPI to view student research and projects advised by Professor Rangwala

Email
rangwala@wpi.edu
Affiliated Department or Office
Chemical Engineering
Education
BS Electrical Engineering, Government College of Engineering, India MS
MS Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland
PhD Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California,San Diego

 

Professor Rangwala’s research interests include problems related to industrial fire and explosion problems. He has worked on topics such as deflagration of combustible dust clouds, ignition behavior of combustible dust layers, in-situ burning of oil, spread of an oil slick in channels, velocity measuring techniques in fire induced flows, and flame propagation and burning rate behavior of condensed fuel surfaces.

He teaches courses on Explosion Dynamics, Explosion Protection, Industrial Fire Protection, Fire Dynamics, Combustion, and Heat and Mass Transfer.

Visit Digital WPI to view student research and projects advised by Professor Rangwala

Office
Gateway Park II 1210
ORCiD
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8018-7044
Personal Website
Lab Links
Combustion Lab
Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

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SDG 13: Climate Action

SDG 13: Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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Research Interests
Fire and explosion safety

Scholarly Work

Professor Rangwala’s research focuses on combustion, fire dynamics, industrial fire protection, and explosion protection. 

Featured works:

Rangwala, A. S., & Zalosh, R. G. (2023). Explosion Dynamics: Fundamentals and Practical Applications. John Wiley & Sons.

Rangwala, A. S., & Raghavan, V. (2021). Mechanism of Fires: Chemistry and Physical Aspects. Springer.

Zalosh, R. G. and Rangwala, A. S. (2022). Explosion Protection, SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 6th Ed. (Book Chapter) 

Rangwala, A. S. (2015 and 2022), Diffusion Flames SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 5th and 6th Ed. (Book Chapter)  

Professional Affiliations
Combustion Institute
AiCHE: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
IAFSS: International Association for Fire Safety Science
Professional Highlights & Honors
Sigma Xi Outstanding Senior Faculty Research Award (WPI), 2017
NSF CAREER Award, 2009
Editorial Board of Fire Safety Journal, 2009 -
International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) Thesis Award: Flame Spread Analysis Using A Variable B-number, 2008

News

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Announcements

Media Coverage

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NBC News
New law requires portable gas containers to add devices to protect against explosions

NBC News cited tests conducted in 2013 by Ali Rangwala, professor of Fire Protection Engineering, that led to passage last week of the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020, which establishes performance standards to protect against portable fuel container explosions. The piece showed that under certain conditions — including a very low volume of gasoline left inside — gas container explosions are possible.