An equation-oriented model for the design of a simple ammonia/water absorption refrigeration cycle is presented, which due to the nature of the working mixture, includes high-quality thermodynamic and thermophysical property models. There are four versions of the model, depending on heat rejection media and distillation column feed conditions. Solution of the model requires the given variables and designer competence-based variables. The column equilibrium stages, diameter, and height use binary decision variables. The solution of the equation set was developed with a General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) general purpose nonlinear solver. An equation solution strategy is described. Once solved, exergy balances are made and irreversibilities and exergy efficiency are calculated globally and for each unit operation. Two examples are compared. The great number of factors that can be varied in the absorption refrigeration system makes manual optimization of an industrial design a formidable task. However, good design makes a decisive difference in regard to the use of waste heat absorption refrigeration. The model forms the basis for the simultaneous optimization of design variables with an appropriate objective function.