The experimental study investigates two aspects of counterflow sensible heat regenerator operation. First, it examines the regenerator performance in periodic steady state operation with spatially nonuniform inlet temperature in one of the fluid stream. Second, the study examines the transient response of a regenerator to a step change in the inlet temperature of one of the fluid streams. The effect of transient inlet temperatures is analyzed in terms of the response of the outlet fluid temperatures to a step change in temperature of one of the inlet fluid streams. The effect of temperature nonuniformities is analyzed in terms of the change of temperature nonuniformities is analyzed in terms of the change in steady state effectiveness due to a circumferential temperature distribution in one of the inlet fluid streams. an experimental analysis has been conducted using a counterflow, parallel passage, and rotary regenerator made from polyethylene film. Efficiencies follow similar trends with increasing matrix to fluid capacity rate ratio for the balanced and symmetric regenerator with nonuniform inlet temperature.