By using a distillation tower as the regenerator, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the ammonia-water absorption refrigeration cycle is calculated in this work. Two types of distillation towers, namely an equilibrium-stage tower with a total condenser and a packed-bed tower with a partial condenser, are used in the cycle. From the simulation results, it is found that both types of distillation towers can successfully increase the COP of the cycle due to increased ammonia concentration in the vapor phase of the ammonia-water refrigerant. It was also found that the tower equipped with a partial condenser provides higher COP than that of the tower equipped with a total condenser. The value of COP can be further increased when the generator is replaced by the packed-bed tower in this water-ammonia absorption cycle. The effects of the mass flow rate ratio of NH 3 /H 2 O, stage number, reflux ratio and energy duty of the tower on the COP of the cycle are also studied in the present paper.