Air scour integrated diffuser for regenerative media filter system

Abstract

Disclosed is a combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor for a regenerative media filter, comprising a fluid flow diffuser plate including a plurality of fluid flow apertures configured to be disposed within a housing of a regenerative media filter between and upper portion and a lower portion of the housing of the regenerative media filter, and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of conduits fluidly connectable to a source of gas and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in each of the plurality of conduits configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of upper portion of the housing. Also disclosed is a regenerative media filter including the combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor.

Description

[0001] AIR SCOUR INTEGRATED DIFFUSER FOR REGENERATIVE MEDIA FILTER SYSTEM

[0002] FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0003] Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to water treatment systems, and more specifically, to water treatment systems for use in aquatics or recreational facilities and methods of operating same.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a regenerative media filter vessel. The regenerative media filter vessel comprises a first inlet fluidly connectable to a feed source including water to be filtered, a first outlet fluidly connectable to a filtered water use, a second inlet fluidly connectable to a source of a gas, a second outlet fluidly connectable to a drain, a tube sheet comprising a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the first outlet, a gas distributor fluidly connected to the second inlet, the gas distributor positioned below the plurality of tube elements and above the first inlet, and a fluid flow diffuser formed integral with the gas distributor and extending fully across a horizontal cross-section of the vessel, the fluid flow diffuser separating the vessel into a lower portion including the first inlet and the second outlet, and an upper portion including the tube sheet and the first outlet.

[0006] In some embodiments, the fluid flow diffuser includes a plate having a plurality of fluid flow apertures defined therein, the plurality of fluid flow apertures providing fluid communication between the lower portion of the vessel and the upper portion of the vessel.

[0007] In some embodiments, the plurality of fluid flow apertures are sized and arranged to create a laminar flow of the water to be filtered from the first inlet into the upper portion of the vessel.

[0008] In some embodiments, the gas distributor includes a plurality of conduits fluidly connected to the second inlet, each of the plurality of conduits including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to direct the gas into the upper portion of the vessel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are configured to direct the gas into the upper portion of the vessel as bubbles.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized and arranged to provide a substantially uniform distribution of gas flow across the cross-section of the vessel. In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized to flow the gas into the vessel at a rate that prevents filter media and / or solids within the vessel from entering the gas distributor.

[0011] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in upper portions of walls of the plurality of conduits.

[0012] In some embodiments, the regenerative media filter vessel further comprises particulate deflectors disposed over each of the plurality of gas flow apertures.

[0013] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in side portions of walls of the plurality of conduits.

[0014] In some embodiments, the plurality of conduits of the gas distributor divide the fluid flow diffuser into a plurality of subsections.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plurality of conduits each include upper portions extending above the fluid flow diffuser and lower portions extending below the fluid flow diffuser.

[0016] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a water filtration system. The water filtration system comprises a regenerative media filter vessel including a housing, a feed liquid inlet, a filtered liquid outlet, a gas inlet, and a tube sheet including a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the filtered liquid outlet, the tube sheet disposed within an upper portion of the regenerative media filter vessel, a gas distributor fluidly connected to the gas inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel above the feed liquid inlet and below the tube sheet, the gas distributor including a conduit and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in a wall of the conduit and configured to prevent flow of filter media and / or particulates from within the vessel into the gas distributor during a gas scouring operation, a fluid flow diffuser plate coupled to the gas distributor and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures configured to cause feed liquid from the feed liquid inlet to maintain a laminar flow upon passing through the fluid flow apertures into the upper portion of the regenerative media filter vessel, and at least one pump configured to direct the feed liquid through the regenerative media filter vessel at a velocity above a minimum flow velocity that exceeds a settling velocity of filter media in the regenerative media filter vessel.

[0017] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a water filtration system. The water filtration system comprises a regenerative media filter vessel comprising a housing, a water inlet, a water outlet, a gas inlet, and a tube sheet including a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the water outlet, a combined gas distributor and fluid flow diffuser plate fluidly connected to the gas inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel above the water inlet and below the tube sheet, the gas distributor comprising a conduit and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in a wall of the conduit, the fluid flow diffuser plate including a plurality of fluid flow apertures and extending across a diameter of the regenerative media vessel, and at least one pump configured to direct water through the regenerative media filter vessel, a distribution of the fluid flow apertures in the fluid flow diffuser plate selected to provide a uniform fluid flow distribution of water across the tube sheet.

[0018] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a water filtration system. The water filtration system comprises a regenerative media filter vessel comprising a housing, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, a horizontally oriented fluid flow diffuser plate disposed with the vessel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a gas flow distribution conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of the regenerative media filter vessel, and a source of gas fluidly connectable to the gas flow distribution conduit.

[0019] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a regenerative media filter. The regenerative media filter comprises a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a horizontally oriented fluid flow diffuser plate disposed within the housing between the upper portion and the lower portion and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures, and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of the housing.

[0020] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a regenerative media filter. The regenerative media filter comprises a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, a fluid flow diffuser disposed within the housing between the upper portion and the lower portion and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures, and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a crosssection of the housing.

[0021] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor for a regenerative media filter. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor comprises a fluid flow diffuser plate including a plurality of fluid flow apertures configured to be disposed within a housing of a regenerative media filter between and upper portion and a lower portion of the housing of the regenerative media filter, and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of conduits fluidly connectable to a source of gas and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in each of the plurality of conduits configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of the upper portion of the housing.

[0022] In some embodiments, the plurality of fluid flow apertures provide fluid communication between the lower portion of the vessel and the upper portion of the vessel.

[0023] In some embodiments, the plurality of fluid flow apertures are sized and arranged to create a laminar flow of the water to be filtered from the lower portion of the vessel into the upper portion of the vessel.

[0024] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are configured to direct the gas into the upper portion of the housing as bubbles for scrubbing a tube sheet disposed within the housing.

[0025] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized to flow the gas into the housing at a rate that prevents filter media and / or solids within the housing from entering the gas flow distributor conduit.

[0026] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in upper portions of the gas flow distributor conduit.

[0027] In some embodiments, the combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor further comprises particulate deflectors disposed over each of the plurality of gas flow apertures.

[0028] In some embodiments, the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in side portions of the gas flow distributor conduit.

[0029] In some embodiments, the gas flow distributor conduit divides the fluid flow diffuser plate into a plurality of subsections.

[0030] In some embodiments, the gas flow distributor conduit includes an upper portion extending above the fluid flow diffuser plate and a lower portion extending below the fluid flow diffuser plate.

[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a regenerative media filter; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a combined gas flow distributor and fluid flow diffuser disposed within a housing of a regenerative media filter;

[0034] FIG. 3 is partially cut away view of an embodiment of a regenerative media filter;

[0035] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a combined gas flow distributor and fluid flow diffuser for a regenerative media filter;

[0036] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a combined gas flow distributor and fluid flow diffuser for a regenerative media filter; and

[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a regenerative media filter.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Systems and methods for treatment of water for use in aquatics and recreational facilities are disclosed herein. The systems and methods may provide filtration of the aquatic and / or recreational water by treatment with a media filter. Media filters typically function as particle removal filters by using a structure, for example, a porous structure, on which a medium may be coated. For example, a regenerative media filter may comprise a tube sheet containing a plurality of porous tube elements and a perlite or diatomaceous earth (DE) media.

[0040] Media filters generally employ a special grade medium to treat water. The special grade medium may be contained in a vessel or other container. The media filter may be a pressure-fed or high-rate media filter. During filtration, the water to be treated may be fed to the media filter vessel, for example, by one or more pumps. Inside the media filter vessel, the water may be distributed by a water distribution head before coming into contact with the special grade medium in the vessel. Generally, the special grade medium acts as a substrate and catches solid contaminants contained in the water. The filtered water is discarded from the vessel and may be returned to the source for further use in the aquatic or recreational facility. The vessel may include one or more vents that can be opened manually or automatically to regulate pressure within the vessel during one or more modes of operation.

[0041] In accordance with certain embodiments, the media filter may be a regenerative media filter, an activated carbon filter, or a walnut shell filter. The media filter may comprise any suitable particulate media for filtering aquatic and / or recreational water. The media filter may comprise perlite or DE media. In some embodiments, the media filter may be, for example, a DEFENDER® media filter (distributed by Evoqua Water Technologies LLC). The media filter may comprise a structure coated with the media. For example, the media filter may comprise plastic tubes, optionally porous plastic tubes. A plurality of plastic tubes may be arranged on a tube sheet, for example, concentrically. In some embodiments, the tubes may comprise a metal, such as stainless steel. Media filters of the coated structure type are described in PCT / US2019 / 056850 filed October 18, 2019 titled “REGENERATIVE MEDIA FILTER AND RELATED METHODS” and WO 2019 / 055903 filed September 17, 2018 titled “SAND FILTER LED STATUS LIGHT,” the disclosures of each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

[0042] In use, the porous tubes may be coated with perlite or DE. In such an embodiment, the porous tubes may be used to prevent the substrate from passing into the filtrate of the media filter. Once coated, the water to be treated may pass through the coating and then through the structure. The coating layer may provide for very fine filtration media, such that the media filter may filter liquids to a small particle size. In some embodiments, the media filter may be configured to filter liquids to less than 10 pm. The media filter may be configured to filter liquids to less than about 10 pm, less than about 5 pm, less than about 3 pm, or less than about 1 pm.

[0043] The media filter vessel may generally be connectable, and in use fluidly connected, to a source of water. In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a water filtration system for treating water for use in aquatics or recreational facilities. The water filtration system may comprise a media filter vessel connectable to a source of water. The water filtration system may comprise one or more lines, pipes, valves, or pumps positioned to distribute the water within the system and optionally to return the treated water to the aquatic or recreational facility after treatment. In some embodiments, water filtration systems of the invention may include gas lines configured to distribute pressurized gases, such as compressed air, to one or more pneumatic components of the system.

[0044] In some embodiments, the water to be treated may include water for human or veterinary applications. For example, the water may be used for recreational purposes, such as swimming. The water may be associated with a pool, spa, hot tub, water park, water fountain, aquarium, zoo, animal reserve, and the like. Typically, the regenerative media filter vessel may be positioned in the vicinity of the source of the water. In some embodiments, the regenerative media filter vessel may be remote from the source of the aquatic and / or recreational water. The water to be treated may have a concentration of organic contaminants. In some embodiments, the organic contaminants may include one or more of animal waste, food particles, and foreign matter such as mold, mildew, moss, and / or algae.

[0045] While embodiments described herein generally refer to aquatic and recreational facilities water, such an application is exemplary. It should be understood that the systems and methods disclosed may be employed for filtration of any fluid to be filtered with a particulate media filter. For instance, systems and methods disclosed herein may be employed for filtration of potable water, aquaculture, irrigation, stormwater management, water for use of oil and gas processing, and other applications.

[0046] The regenerative media filter vessel may be of a size suitable for processing between 70 and 2500 gallons per minute (GPM) of water. For example, the regenerative media filter vessel may be sized to process between about 70 GPM and about 100 GPM, between about 100 GPM and about 250 GPM, between about 250 GPM and about 500 GPM, between about 500 GPM and about 1000 GPM, between about 1000 GPM and about 2000 GPM, or between about 2000 GPM and about 2500 GPM. The regenerative media filter may comprise more than one vessel, arranged in series or in parallel. Generally, the size and arrangement of regenerative media filter vessels may vary with the size of aquatic or recreational structure to be filtered.

[0047] In some cases, the regenerative media filter vessel of the system comprises a gas distributor positioned below the plurality of tube elements. The gas distributor, when connected to a source of gas, delivers an effective volume of gas to produce a plurality of bubbles that may contact the plurality of tube elements coated with particulate media. The generated bubbles aid with agitating the tube elements, thus assisting in detaching the particulate media and contaminants adsorbed on said tube elements during a maintenance process known as “air scouring”. The increased cleaning efficiency of the plurality of tube elements using bubbles generated from the gas distributor reduces the number of required system shutdowns to do a manual cleaning, such as with a pressure washer. An example of a regenerative media filter vessel having such a gas distributor is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0052718 Al, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0048] Additionally, in some embodiments, the inlet of the regenerative media filter vessel includes a diffuser fluidly connected to the inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel. The diffuser is designed and constructed to provide for a uniform fluid flow distribution within the regenerative media filter vessel. By “uniform fluid flow distribution,” it is meant that flow entering the regenerative media filter vessel has a reduced flow velocity as compared to the flow velocity of water entering the diffuser, is substantially laminar, and is symmetric about a central vertical axis of the regenerative media filter vessel over a majority of the height of the vessel.

[0049] Uniform fluid flow distribution of water entering the vessel is a consideration for the efficiency of filtration and the coating of the plurality of tube elements with particulate media. Fluid flow that is not uniformly distributed may, for example, reduce the effective media coating thickness on some or all of the plurality of tube elements. Uncoated surfaces of tube elements, or surfaces with less than the minimum media coating thickness, may contribute to filter breakthrough and a reduction in filtrate quality. Further, turbulent flow into the regenerative media filter vessel may inadvertently deposit particulate media onto surfaces where it is not intended, increasing particulate media use and costs. A uniform fluid flow distribution of water entering the vessel may aid in uniformly coating the plurality of tube elements and thus reduce cycle time of the regenerative media filter vessel.

[0050] In some embodiments, the diffuser is positioned within the regenerative media filter proximate a concave lower portion. The diffuser generally includes a conduit having a plurality of apertures defined in at least a lower side of a wall of the conduit. The plurality of apertures may be configured, that is, sized and shaped, to allow a particulate media within the regenerative media filter vessel to pass through. The diffuser is generally configured to receive a flow of water at any velocity or flow characteristics and output a smoother flow with a reduced velocity and more uniform flow distribution. For example, the diffuser may be configured to receive a turbulent flow of water, such as water from a pump at a high velocity and provide for a reduction in the flow velocity of water into the regenerative media filter vessel. In some embodiments, the diffuser may be configured to provide for a reduction in the flow velocity into the regenerative media filter vessel of at least 50% relative to water provided to the diffuser from the at least one pump. For example, the diffuser may be configured to reduce a 300 GPM flow with a velocity of 12 feet per second (fps) down to between 3-4 fps. An example of a regenerative media filter vessel utilizing such a diffuser may be found in PCT Application Publication No. W02022 / 015280 Al, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0051] While regenerative media filter vessels having both a gas distributor and a diffuser currently exist, they utilize separate components / assemblies for each function, with the gas distributor arranged above the diffuser. Not only does this configuration require at least two separate components, but the vertically stacked positioning of the gas distributor and the diffuser necessitates sufficient vertical space within the bottom portion of the vessel. Due to the need for such vertical space, potential reductions in the overall height of the vessel are limited.

[0052] Accordingly, the present invention pertains to a regenerative media filter system having a combined gas distributor and diffuser configuration. The combined gas distributor and diffuser not only reduces the overall number of components needed, but also allows for a reduction in vessel height.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 1 -3, a regenerative media filter vessel 100 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. The regenerative media filter vessel 100 may include a fluid inlet 105 and a fluid outlet 110 positioned on a side surface thereof, with the fluid inlet 105 being positioned closer to the bottom of the vessel 100. The fluid inlet 105 may be considered a first inlet that is connectable to a feed source including water to be filtered. The fluid outlet 110 may be considered a first outlet fluidly connectable to a filtered water use. The regenerative media filter vessel 100 also includes a drain outlet 110 positioned on a side surface thereof. The drain outlet 110 may be considered a second outlet fluidly connectable to a drain.

[0054] As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a combined gas distributor and fluid flow diffuser 200 is configured to be positioned within the vessel 100 at a location above the fluid inlet 105 and below a plurality of tube elements 310 (see FIG. 6) having internal volumes fluidly connected to the first outlet 110. The plurality of tube elements may be in the form of a tube sheet as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023 / 0052718 Al. A source of gas (not shown) is fluidly connectable or connected to the gas distributor portion 205 through a gas inlet 210 to deliver an effective volume of gas to produce a plurality of bubbles that may contact the plurality of tube elements coated with particulate media. The gas inlet 210 may be considered a second inlet to the vessel 100. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas distributor portion 205 is configured to have eight (8) extensions or branches 215 in the form of conduits fluidly connected to the second inlet 210. However, it is to be understood that the gas distributor portion 205 may be configured to have more or fewer extensions or branches, and may be configured with non-linear portions (e.g., a series of interconnected concentric circles, etc.). A plurality of gas flow apertures 220 are formed in at least upper portions of walls of the conduits of the gas distributor portion 205 to distribute the gas bubbles and to direct the gas into the upper portion of the vessel for scrubbing the tube elements. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of gas flow apertures 220 may be defined in side portions of the walls of the plurality of the conduits of the gas distributor 205. In some embodiments, particulate deflectors are disposed over each of the plurality of gas flow apertures 220 to help prevent particulates from entering the conduits of the gas flow distributor 205. The plurality of gas flow apertures 220 are sized and arranged to provide a substantially uniform distribution of gas flow across the cross-section of the vessel 100 and are sized to flow the gas into the vessel 100 at a rate that prevents filter media and / or solids within the vessel from entering the gas distributor 205.

[0055] Referring still to FIGS. 2-5, disposed between the gas distributor extensions are a plurality of fluid diffuser portions or subsections 225 such that the combined gas distributor and fluid flow diffuser 200 forms a plate-like configuration. The plurality of conduits of the gas distributor 205 may divide the fluid flow diffuser into the plurality of subsections 225. The plurality of fluid diffuser portions 225 may in combination form a fluid flow diffuser. In some embodiments, the fluid flow diffuser is formed integral with the gas distributor 205. In other embodiments, the plurality of conduits of the gas distributor 205 are formed separately from the plurality of fluid diffuser portions or subsections 225 and the plurality of conduits of the gas distributor 205 are coupled to or connected to the plurality of fluid diffuser portions or subsections 225 by welding, with an adhesive (for example, epoxy) or with nuts and bolts or other forms of fasteners. In some embodiments, the plurality of conduits of the gas distributor 205 each include upper portions extending above the fluid flow diffuser and lower portions extending below the fluid flow diffuser.

[0056] The fluid flow diffuser may extend fully across a horizontal cross-section of the vessel 100, and may separate the vessel into a lower portion including the first inlet 105 and the second outlet 115, and an upper portion including the tube sheet and the first outlet 110. The fluid flow diffuser formed of the fluid diffuser portions 225 may be in the form of a plate. Each of the fluid diffuser portions 225 has a plurality of fluid flow apertures 230 formed therein and passing therethrough. The plurality of fluid flow apertures 230 provide fluid communication between the lower portion of the vessel and the upper portion of the vessel, allowing the fluid injected into the vessel 100 via the fluid inlet 105 to be diffused as it travels vertically upwards through the combined gas distributor and diffuser 200. The plurality of fluid flow apertures 230 are sized and arranged to create a laminar flow of the water to be filtered from the first inlet 105 into the upper portion of the vessel 100.

[0057] As the gas distributor and fluid diffuser portions 205, 225 are positioned substantially along the same plane, the vertical clearance needed at the bottom of the vessel 100 can be reduced, thereby allowing for an overall reduction in the height of the vessel 100. In some embodiments, an upper manifold 305 to which the plurality of tube elements 310 are connected for withdrawing filtered fluid from the vessel 100 is disposed in an upper portion of the vessel 100 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The upper manifold 305 and the plurality of tube elements 310 may be rotated within the vessel 100 by a motor 315 or other form of actuator disposed on the outside of the vessel operatively connected to the upper manifold 305 by a drive shaft, chain link, gear, or other suitable mechanism. Such rotation of the plurality of tube elements 310 within the vessel may improve the effectiveness of removal of debris from the tube elements 310 during air scouring.

[0058] In addition to the hardware aspect of the combined gas distributor and diffuser 200, in some embodiments, automation may be added to the air scouring process to aid in the process and ensure that complete air scour is achieved throughout all of the tube elements. Instead of a manual operation of the air scour / gas distributor, the system can utilize an automated process to automatically perform the air scour.

[0059] The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As used herein, the term “plurality” refers to two or more items or components. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” and “involving,” whether in the written description or the claims and the like, are open-ended terms, i.e., to mean “including but not limited to.” Thus, the use of such terms is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of and “consisting essentially of,” are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, with respect to the claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

[0060] Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Any feature described in any embodiment may be included in or substituted for any feature of any other embodiment. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

[0061] Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the parameters and configurations described herein are exemplary and that actual parameters and / or configurations will depend on the specific application in which the disclosed methods and materials are used. Those skilled in the art should also recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, equivalents to the specific embodiments disclosed.

Claims

What is Claimed is:CLAIMS1. A regenerative media filter vessel comprising: a first inlet fluidly connectable to a feed source including water to be filtered; a first outlet fluidly connectable to a filtered water use; a second inlet fluidly connectable to a source of a gas; a second outlet fluidly connectable to a drain; a tube sheet comprising a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the first outlet; a gas distributor fluidly connected to the second inlet, the gas distributor positioned below the plurality of tube elements and above the first inlet; and a fluid flow diffuser formed integral with the gas distributor and extending fully across a horizontal cross-section of the vessel, the fluid flow diffuser separating the vessel into: a lower portion including the first inlet and the second outlet, and an upper portion including the tube sheet and the first outlet.

2. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow diffuser includes a plate having a plurality of fluid flow apertures defined therein, the plurality of fluid flow apertures providing fluid communication between the lower portion of the vessel and the upper portion of the vessel.

3. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluid flow apertures are sized and arranged to create a laminar flow of the water to be filtered from the first inlet into the upper portion of the vessel.

4. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 2, wherein the gas distributor includes a plurality of conduits fluidly connected to the second inlet, each of the plurality of conduits including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to direct the gas into the upper portion of the vessel.

5. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are configured to direct the gas as bubbles into the upper portion of the vessel to scrub the plurality of tube elements.

6. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized and arranged to provide a substantially uniform distribution of gas flow across the cross-section of the vessel.

7. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized to flow the gas into the vessel at a rate that prevents filter media and / or solids within the vessel from entering the gas distributor.

8. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in upper portions of walls of the plurality of conduits.

9. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 8, further comprising particulate deflectors disposed over each of the plurality of gas flow apertures.

10. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in side portions of walls of the plurality of conduits.

11. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conduits of the gas distributor divide the fluid flow diffuser into a plurality of subsections.

12. The regenerative media filter vessel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of conduits each include upper portions extending above the fluid flow diffuser and lower portions extending below the fluid flow diffuser.

13. A water filtration system, comprising: a regenerative media filter vessel including a housing, a feed liquid inlet, a filtered liquid outlet, a gas inlet, and a tube sheet including a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the filtered liquid outlet, the tube sheet disposed within an upper portion of the regenerative media filter vessel;a gas distributor fluidly connected to the gas inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel above the feed liquid inlet and below the tube sheet, the gas distributor including a conduit and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in a wall of the conduit and configured to prevent flow of filter media and / or particulates from within the vessel into the gas distributor during a gas scouring operation; a fluid flow diffuser plate coupled to the gas distributor and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures configured to cause feed liquid from the feed liquid inlet to maintain a laminar flow upon passing through the fluid flow apertures into the upper portion of the regenerative media filter vessel; and at least one pump configured to direct the feed liquid through the regenerative media filter vessel at a velocity above a minimum flow velocity that exceeds a settling velocity of filter media in the regenerative media filter vessel.

14. A water filtration system, comprising: a regenerative media filter vessel comprising a housing, a water inlet, a water outlet, a gas inlet, and a tube sheet including a plurality of tube elements having internal volumes fluidly connected to the water outlet; a combined gas distributor and fluid flow diffuser plate fluidly connected to the gas inlet and disposed within the regenerative media filter vessel above the water inlet and below the tube sheet, the gas distributor comprising a conduit and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in a wall of the conduit, the fluid flow diffuser plate including a plurality of fluid flow apertures and extending across a diameter of the regenerative media vessel; and at least one pump configured to direct water through the regenerative media filter vessel, a distribution of the fluid flow apertures in the fluid flow diffuser plate selected to provide a uniform fluid flow distribution of water across the tube sheet.

15. A water filtration system, comprising: a regenerative media filter vessel comprising a housing, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet; a horizontally oriented fluid flow diffuser plate disposed with the vessel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; a gas flow distribution conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver a substantially uniform distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of the regenerative media filter vessel; anda source of gas fluidly connectable to the gas flow distribution conduit.

16. A regenerative media filter, comprising: a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; a horizontally oriented fluid flow diffuser plate disposed within the housing between the upper portion and the lower portion and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures; and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver a distribution of gas bubbles across a cross-section of the housing.

17. A regenerative media filter, comprising: a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; a fluid flow diffuser disposed within the housing between the upper portion and the lower portion and including a plurality of fluid flow apertures; and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of gas flow apertures configured to deliver gas bubbles across a cross-section of the housing.

18. A combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor for a regenerative media filter, comprising: a fluid flow diffuser plate including a plurality of fluid flow apertures configured to be disposed within a housing of a regenerative media filter between and upper portion and a lower portion of the housing of the regenerative media filter; and a gas flow distributor conduit defined in the fluid flow diffuser plate and including a plurality of conduits fluidly connectable to a source of gas and a plurality of gas flow apertures defined in each of the plurality of conduits configured to deliver gas bubbles across the upper portion of the housing.

19. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the plurality of fluid flow apertures provide fluid communication between the lower portion of the vessel and the upper portion of the vessel.

20. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 19, wherein the plurality of fluid flow apertures are sized and arranged to create a laminar flow of the water to be filtered from the lower portion of the vessel into the upper portion of the vessel.

21. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are configured to direct the gas into the upper portion of the housing.

22. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are sized to flow the gas into the housing at a rate that prevents filter media and / or solids within the housing from entering the gas flow distributor conduit.

23. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in upper portions of the gas flow distributor conduit.

24. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 23, further comprising particulate deflectors disposed over each of the plurality of gas flow apertures.

25. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the plurality of gas flow apertures are defined in side portions of the gas flow distributor conduit.

26. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the gas flow distributor conduit divides the fluid flow diffuser plate into a plurality of subsections.

27. The combined fluid flow diffuser and gas flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the gas flow distributor conduit includes an upper portion extending above the fluid flow diffuser plate and a lower portion extending below the fluid flow diffuser plate.

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