Patent ID: 7631544

Claim:
A flow analysis system having a deaerator for removing gas bubbles in a liquid upstream an analysis section, wherein the deaerator comprises: a liquid-containing means variable in internal volume for containing the liquid together with gas bubbles included in the liquid which is composed of a syringe and a plunger inserted in the syringe and movable in the axial direction of the syringe; a switching means for switching between a liquid introducing path for introducing the liquid into the syringe and a liquid delivering path for delivering the liquid from the syringe; a plunger driving means for moving the plunger between a liquid introducing direction for introducing the liquid into the syringe and a liquid delivering direction for delivering the liquid from the syringe; and a drive controlling means for controlling the switching means and the plunger driving means; wherein, at the time of introducing the liquid into the syringe, the drive controlling means controls the plunger driving means to introduce the liquid into the syringe by moving the plunger along the liquid introducing direction, while the drive controlling means controls the switching means to keep setting to the liquid introducing path, and at the time of delivering the liquid from the syringe, after the drive controlling means controls the switching means to switch from the liquid introducing path to the liquid delivering path, the drive controlling means controls the plunger driving means to move the plunger along the liquid delivering direction to discharge gas bubbles in the syringe while maintaining in the syringe at least part of the liquid as a first step, and then to stop moving the plunger temporarily as a second step, and then to move the plunger further along the liquid delivering direction to deliver the liquid remaining in the syringe toward the analysis section as a third step.