There are 2 types of choked flow; acoustically choked ( as in this case) or frictionally choked, as with use of a CCI drag valve or with use of capillary tubes ( eg Fanno flow) .
A 16" valve , acoustically choked, at the outlet of a 24" pipe implies the velocity at the end of the 24" pipe is at a 0.44 Mach number, which is not terrible but could be better. Any bends in the pipe would result in noise from oblique shock waves, and of course there will be jet noise at the 16" ball valve. A multistage valve or a CCi style Drag valve would eliminate the noise issue, and a turbo expander would produce usable power and earn money over time.
The flowrate that is limited by acoustic choking is defined by the location of minimum flow area, in this case the 16" ball valve vena contracta.
"Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad "