Regenerative media filter with flow diffuser

A water filtration method comprising the steps of:

• providing a regenerative media filter vessel having:
• a cylindrical housing having a sidewall defining an inner diameter, a concave lower portion, and a top cover;
• an inlet extending through the sidewall;
• a diffuser having a plurality of apertures on a lower half thereof fluidly connected to the inlet to direct fluid toward the concave lower portion;
• an outlet extending through the top cover;
• a tube sheet dividing the cylindrical housing into an upper filtrate volume and a lower pre-filter volume;
• a plurality of porous tube elements suspended from the tube sheet;
• a particulate media disposed within the cylindrical housing;
• selecting a length of the diffuser, a position of the diffuser, and the inner diameter of the regenerative media filter vessel such that, in operation, the diffuser provides a uniform fluid flow distribution of a flow of water directed into the regenerative media filter vessel, and selecting a ratio of the height to an inner diameter of the regenerative media filter vessel and a radius of curvature of the concave lower portion such that, in operation, the flow of water directed out of the diffuser and into the regenerative media filter vessel has a minimum flow velocity that exceeds a settling velocity of the particulate media in the regenerative media filter vessel;
• flowing water into the regenerative media filter vessel through the inlet and diffuser causing the particulate media to coat the porous tube elements forming a coating thereon having a thickness;
• and
• flowing water to be filtered into the regenerative media vessel through the inlet and diffuser after the coating has been formed, with a filtrate passing through the thickness of the coating into an interior of the porous tube elements, into the filtrate volume and out through the outlet, while particles too large to pass through the thickness of the coating are prevented from flowing therethrough.