Fire Protection Engineering Department FPE SEMINAR SERIES - Vapor Cloud Explosions
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Fire Protection Engineering Department
FPE SEMINAR SERIES
Guest Lecture FP 575: Explosion Protection Engineering
Vapor Cloud Explosions
Dr. Kelly Thomas
Baker Risk
Friday, April 17, 2026
50 Prescott Street, Classroom #1226
11:00 – 12:30 pm EST
https://wpi.zoom.us/j/97198505856
Biography:
Dr. Kelly Thomas is a vice-president and manager of the blast effects section at BakerRisk. He graduated with a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University, where he worked primarily in the areas of advanced nuclear fuels and space nuclear power systems. Dr. Thomas worked at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site until 1999, with a focus on nuclear fuels and materials, accident analysis, and flammability and explosion issues. Dr. Thomas joined BakerRisk in 1999, where his primary focus has been on the characterization, modeling and testing of flammability & explosion related phenomena, explosion consequence assessments, and the investigation of accidental explosions. He serves on the NFPA Explosion Protection Systems Technical Committee and the Hydrogen Safety Panel.
This lecture is offered as part of FP 575 (Explosion Protection Engineering) taught by Prof. Lorenz Boeck for the Explosion Protection Engineering (XPE) – A new and exciting interdisciplinary MS program by Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Fire Protection, and Mechanical Engineering at WPI.
https://www.wpi.edu/academics/study/master-science-explosion-protection-engineering