An innovative device is proposed which uses a hollow fiber membrane module as both a gas-liquid contactor and a heat exchanger. The performance of the device as an absorber in the ammonia-water absorption heat pump system, HFMAE (hollow fiber membrane absorber and exchanger), is investigated. A rigorous mathematical model for HFMAE considering the heat and mass transfers of the ammonia-water absorber is used to simulate the performances and heat and mass transfer characteristics. Performances of HFMAE and a falling film type absorber using a plate heat exchanger with an offset strip fin (PHEFFA) are compared by simulation for employed as the solution-cooled absorber and the water-cooled absorber in the heat pump cycle. The unit volume interfacial area of HFMAE is more than ten times higher than PHEFFA and the heat and mass transfer coefficients are higher too. The analysis indicated that the major resistance is in liquid phase for both heat and mass transfers. For a typical ammonia-water absorption chiller, using HFMAE as the absorbers can result in an improvement in COP (coefficient of performance) of 14.8%.