A model of simultaneous heat and mass transfer process in absorption of refrigerant vapor into a lithium bromide solution of water-cooled vertical plate absorber. which was considered to the change of refrigerant vapor pressure along the plate width direction. was developed to evaluate the compactness of plate absorber and supply basis data for optimal design of plate absorber. The effects of plate interval as well as the effect of capacity for one piece of plate absorber on plate absorber size such as plate height. plate heating area and plate absorber volume have been investigated. It is confirmed that there is exist an optimal plate interval minimizing plate absorber volume. And the smaller capacity for one piece of plate absorber. the smaller plate absorber volume is obtained.