In order to comply with the wide variety of engine installation conditions, the common rail with its flow limiters and the provistions for attaching rail pressure sensor, fuel pressure control valve, and pressure limiter valve is available in a number of different designs.

The available common rail volume is permanently filled with pressurized fuel. The compressibility of the fuel resulting from the high pressure is utilized to achieve the accumulator effect. When fuel leaves the rail for injection, the pressure variations resulting from the pulsating fuel supply from the high-pressure pump are compensated for.