One criteria that I teach when people ask me the Repair or Alteration question is simple. [But first, recognize that vast generalizations have vast room for error!] If you put pencil to paper (ok, or use a computer) to run a calculation, it is probably an alteration.
As metenger point out above, if you are adding a 24" nozzle which has identical or reduced loads as an existing one (e.g. the new nozzle has less liquid head at its elevation and is in the same thickness of shell), then you can simply copy the design of the existing one. I would run calc's anyway just to verify the design, but technically I do not have to. This would push you towards "Repair."
If, on the other hand, no previous 24" nozzles exist, or you are adding one to a shell section which has a different loading or thickness, then you must run calculations to verify the design. This would push you towards "Alteration".