A mathematical model for ammonia-water bubble absorbers was developed and compared with experimental data using a plate heat exchanger. The analysis was performed carrying out a sensitive study of selected operation parameters on the absorber thermal load and mass absorption flux. Regarding the experimental data, the values obtained for the solution heat transfer were in the range 0.51-1.21 kW m(-2) K-1 and those of the mass absorption flux in the range 2.5-5.0 x 10(-3) kg m(-2) S-1. The comparison between experimental and simulation results was acceptable being the maximum difference of 11.1% and 28.4% for the absorber thermal load and the mass absorption flux, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.